Should You Bring In Your Neighbor's Trash Can?

On the surface, bringing your neighbors trash bins up from the curb seems like an innocent favor amongst fellow community members. But could this simple act be considered rude? In some cases, yes. Technically, those bins are your neighbors' personal property and, for them, touching them without their permission may feel like an invasion of privacy. Even if your intentions are good, bringing in the bins could cause upset. 

Whether you view the bins as an eyesore or simply feel compelled to help a neighbor who may be elderly or too busy with kids to bring the bins in on time, asking permission first is absolutely the best route to take. Knowing how and when to broach the topic, however, may be a delicate dance. But, with a positive attitude and a willingness to work together, you and even the most difficult of neighbors can get along to work out a solution that serves everyone.

Like with most situations, simply talking to your neighbor is the best place to start. You can ask them if it would be okay for you to bring up the bins or, if they're open to it, you could brainstorm some budget-friendly ways to hide outdoor garbage bins to make them less of an eyesore. Either way, be sure to come at the conversation from a non-accusatory standpoint, as the subject of trash can get touchy rather quickly.

If the trash issue goes beyond being an eye sore and the bins are frequently blocking your driveway or emitting a bad smell into your yard, then it's a good idea for you to get familiar with your city and HOA rules to know what the law says about where you can place your trash cans. With this information in your back pocket, you'll be prepared to take more serious steps should your conversations with the neighbors not go as planned.