Our HOA is trying to ban people from putting their trash cans out the night before pickup.
By @paigeok · Am I the Villain
They just sent a new proposal that says trash cans can only be on the curb from 7 a.m. the day of pickup until 7 p.m. that night. My husband and I both work and have to get the kids to school, so we take them out the night before.
The full story
The proposal says it's for 'neighborhood aesthetic' and to prevent animals from getting into them overnight, which I guess is fair. But it feels really targeted at working families. I mean, we get home, get the kids dinner, do homework, do baths, and then we have to remember to wheel the bins out at 7am while also trying to get two kids out the door for school and ourselves out for work? It's just one more thing. Taking them out the night before after dinner is part of our routine. We've never had an issue with animals (our cans have locking lids). The fine is $50 per offense. A few of the retirees on the board are really pushing for it. I sent a very strongly worded email to the board president saying this was an unfair burden on families with two working parents and that not everyone has the luxury of being home all morning. Now there's a whole email chain of people arguing and some are saying I'm the one being un-neighborly and making things difficult for the whole community over a small rule change.
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 35% (14 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 33% (13 votes)
- You’re Fine — 33% (13 votes)
Readers are split: “Totally Cooked” leads with 35% — 40 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@willaforsure — My old neighbor used to take his bins out on Sunday for a Wednesday pickup and just leave them there all week lol.
@violetagain — I would start taking my trash out at 6:59 a.m. and leaving my empty bins on the curb until 6:59 p.m. every single week.
@quinnkk — An HOA's job is to protect property values, not make everyone's life convenient.
@yaraok — start an email war this is incredible
@yarawelp — Is it possible a lot of people have had issues with animals and you just haven't?
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