What would you do -- neighbor's trash?

naturewoman · #21 04/22/08, 12:20 AM

The trees are not a problem. If they are in the fence line, just use them as posts and run that fence line. It will save you a world of heartache. In this case, I'd be tempted to put up a six foot privacy fence the whole length separating you from them. A wire fence will stop trash from blowing on your property, but you'll see be able to see it. If you get the fence up (they can't walk through it, and the trash can't blow through it)...the only thing you'll have to worry about is the smell, and if it gets bad enough, call the health department out. Hide your burn can while they come out.

If you are worried about calling the health department because you have junk in your yard, build yourself a small area behind a privacy fence and stash all the junk behind the fence until you can dispose of it. Most codes don't prevent people from having a junk pile, as long as it's not open to public view. As long as there is no other hazzard associated with it.

fantasymaker · #22 04/22/08, 12:33 AM

Did you know that if you have your neice and nephew write the name and adress of your neighbors on the trash you pay them a few bucks to pick up it will have the neighbors adress on it? And it will have come from their place? and it wont be in your handwriting? and the cops will likely isuue them some sort of ticket If ya turn it over to them?...

just thought you might wanna think about that a bit.

Txsteader · #23 04/22/08, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwhit

Good luck with that...

this used to be my yard before I bought the place:
What would you do -- neighbor's trash? - Homesteading Questions

Yes, those are horses eating from the pile

There was garbage everywhere-- it looks neatly bagged, but believe me, it wasn't. Nobody seemed to be able to do anything about it-- they'd show up, issue a citation and he'd pay the fine. He never cleaned it up.

Michelle

I guess it depends where you live as to the response you get.

We had a similar situation here....a literal mountain of household garbage. After trying to deal directly with the neighbor, had no alternative but to call the health dept. We were being overrun with rats, roaches and feral cats. When inspectors came out, she was issued citations for 3 violations.....1) garbage, 2) waist-high unmowed grass (they kept a path from the car tot he front door cleared) and 3) open, abandoned trailers (they moved out of 1 after the floors rotted out into another one).

It was obvious who'd called the authorities. She called to cuss me out, tell me the fines were $600/violation and that she'd see me in court. What she didn't understand was that the State of Texas would be taking her to court....I was 'anonymous'.

She complied.

Shortly afterwards, she moved.....and did the same thing to her new neighbors......who reported her to the health dept.

mwhit · #24 04/22/08, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txsteader

I guess it depends where you live as to the response you get.

We had a similar situation here....a literal mountain of household garbage. After trying to deal directly with the neighbor, had no alternative but to call the health dept. We were being overrun with rats, roaches and feral cats. When inspectors came out, she was issued citations for 3 violations.....1) garbage, 2) waist-high unmowed grass (they kept a path from the car tot he front door cleared) and 3) open, abandoned trailers (they moved out of 1 after the floors rotted out into another one).

It was obvious who'd called the authorities. She called to cuss me out, tell me the fines were $600/violation and that she'd see me in court. What she didn't understand was that the State of Texas would be taking her to court....I was 'anonymous'.

She complied.

Shortly afterwards, she moved.....and did the same thing to her new neighbors......who reported her to the health dept.

Oh, he was issued tickets and he paid the fines, but he didn't care or clean it up. Ya see, it wasn't his own trash-- he was the local garbage man. Yup, he collected money to take people's trash to the dump so a fine every once in awhile didn't bother him. The pile in the picture was probably only one weeks worth-- he spent hours everyday burning it out baack-- there were 6 barrels and a huge burn pit burning almost 24/7. I never did figure out who he knew that was protecting him....

Michelle

Txsteader · #25 04/22/08, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwhit

Oh, he was issued tickets and he paid the fines, but he didn't care or clean it up. Ya see, it wasn't his own trash-- he was the local garbage man. Yup, he collected money to take people's trash to the dump so a fine every once in awhile didn't bother him. The pile in the picture was probably only one weeks worth-- he spent hours everyday burning it out baack-- there were 6 barrels and a huge burn pit burning almost 24/7. I never did figure out who he knew that was protecting him....

Michelle

Incredible!! Glad that wasn't our situation......DH would have worked some 'vigilante justice'

mwhit · #26 04/22/08, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txsteader

Incredible!! Glad that wasn't our situation......DH would have worked some 'vigilante justice'

I did and well, I even got arrested, but in the end I got the last laugh. I'm here, he's gone and I got to evict him

Didn't take a lawyer to do it either-- I'm a bit touched sometimes

watcher · #27 04/22/08, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnet

The deal is, I can't really call the cops because there's no "proof" where the trash is coming from. The wind "could have" blown it anywhere. Except that since I live here, I've watched them PLENTY of times dump trash on the ground and walk away, like they magically expect it to stay put until burn day. (Plus I'll confess to owning some of the large junk on my property and it looks pretty trashy at the moment ... I'm trying to clean it up, but it's like treading water trying to keep up with what blows onto my lot from THEIR lot, plus clean up MY mess.)

I am not sure what else to do ... I am sure getting boiling mad, though.

Suggestions?

Take a video tape of their trash pile, filmed from YOUR property, and the trash on your property to the local DA and ask if its enough evidence to start a case. Look through the trash in your yard and see if there's any mail or bills with their name and address on them if you find something like that show it on your tape.

Contact the local department of natural resources and state EPA about the danger to wildlife/the environment due to their illegal garbage dump. Some times the DNR/EPA has more power than the sheriff's office for something like this. Send them a copy of the tape. Make sure you place is 'ok' before you do.

Set up a camera and get plenty of shots and video then tell them to keep the place clean or you are going to sue them. They probably don't have much but you might be able to get an old car or two and a TV. The cars are worth a hundred bucks or so for scrap.

MarleneS · #28 04/22/08, 07:16 AM

From the responses to this thread make a list of your legal options - write them in the order that is most appealing to you. Start at the top and work down.

Repeat after me...the only person I can change is myself.

Good luck,
Marlene

Txsteader · #29 04/22/08, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwhit

I did and well, I even got arrested, but in the end I got the last laugh. I'm here, he's gone and I got to evict him

Didn't take a lawyer to do it either-- I'm a bit touched sometimes

You go girl!

Hoop · #30 04/22/08, 08:45 AM

Your junk is partially to blame for attracting the bottom feeding neighbors. When the property next to you was for sale, its conceivable that the hardworking ambitious people saw your junk and decided against being a part of the neighborhood.
The bottom feeders saw your junk and decided, "Home".

Don't count on legal entities getting involved in this. You'll be on your own.

2 options. Neither is a good one.
1) walk over to neighbor. Thoroughly thrash head of household in front of everyone. It has been said that the only way to address many problems is to bring it to there attention. The thrashing will definitely get there attention. Tell him the next time trash blows onto your property, another thrashing will come his way. Sadly, this is the only thing some people understand.
2) build a fence similar to the proverbial "white picket fence". Only higher. 8' high. The entire length of your property border with the bottom feeders. All at your expense.

bumpus · #31 04/22/08, 08:52 AM

.
If there is any mail in the trash on your property with there name on it you can use that to prove who owns the trash.

Call the health department and they will put a stop to it or the DNR.

bumpus
.

ChristyACB · #32 04/22/08, 08:55 AM

Here's a tip that I used very successfully against a big development firm. They got away with everything for the obvious reasons with our local government, but this one worked great.

I bought, at $5.99 each, dummy cameras and posted them high in the trees on my property so it looked like I had my property line and backyard well covered. I then posted 2 signs, at $1.99 each, smack dab in the middle of the back property line that read, "Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again" and "If I miss you with my gun, I won't with the cameras".

Their construction workers were clearing the parcel for development and kept letting their dogs come over and pee on my vegetables and dig up my garden. They also kept throwing their beer bottles over and walking through the plants, etc.

Believe me, that worked on the first day.

Cameras might make these folks worry that they will get in actual legal trouble. But who knows with some folks.

Christy

fordy · #33 04/22/08, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnet

I'm at wit's end with these people. Family of (now) 13 children, four adults (three sets of cousins, grandparents, one adult son, girlfriend).

I will be the first to confess that I am not the neatest person. There's plenty of "junk" in my yard that's mine. I'm working on cleaning it up -- I was out of commission with back trouble for over a year.

However, about three weeks ago, I filled ten 35 gallon trash bags with trash that had blown or been thrown onto my 2.4 acre parcel from their lot. They're upwind from me. And it was NASTY trash. Kitchen garbage. Styrofoam meat trays. Rotted vegetables. Dirty diapers.

They burn their trash, but only do it periodically. I'm fine with them burning it -- if they'd DO it. (Burning trash is not technically legal, but since I have a burn barrel of my own for certain items, like yard waste, I am not going to report them. It's 50 miles to the nearest dump and I don't want to lose that "privilege" of burning my own stuff as needed.)

They pile up the garbage ... and leave it. For days. Weeks. It blows everywhere. The dogs (including their dogs) scatter it. I am downwind. Can we see the problem?

The next day ... after picking up all the trash the first time ... it looked like I'd never been out there. And again, I picked it all up. And again, the next day ... rinse, lather, repeat. Mind, the adults of the family saw me out there.

I finally blew my stack. Told the kids to go get their grandparents or parents. Was told they were "sleeping" at four PM on a Sunday and they didn't want to come out and see me. My response was to tell the kids to tell the adults I was going to go pound very loudly and continously on their front door until they came out to talk to me, or I was going to call the cops for the littering. And to tell me which they'd prefer.

With that message relayed, the adults came out. I expressed my displeasure at the trash. I also then proceeded to BUILD THEM A WIRE CAGE TO KEEP THEIR TRASH IN with fencing *I BOUGHT* that was dog proof and wind proof. These people are poor. And I had about 30 feet of fencing left over from a project. At $1.50 a foot, that's about $45 ... money well spent if it kept me from @$%$ picking up their @!#$ trash.

They're not using it. Apparently, it must be too much work to lift the trash bags into the cage, and then lift them out again.

The deal is, I can't really call the cops because there's no "proof" where the trash is coming from. The wind "could have" blown it anywhere. Except that since I live here, I've watched them PLENTY of times dump trash on the ground and walk away, like they magically expect it to stay put until burn day. (Plus I'll confess to owning some of the large junk on my property and it looks pretty trashy at the moment ... I'm trying to clean it up, but it's like treading water trying to keep up with what blows onto my lot from THEIR lot, plus clean up MY mess.)

I am not sure what else to do ... I am sure getting boiling mad, though.

Suggestions?

...............Buy , build and instruct them on HOW to make a really effective burn barrel......Materials.....(1) used metal barrel ....then take a metal , 1\2 inch drill bit and drill about 10 holes in the bottom of the barrel , then , drill about 8 more holes around the very bottom on the vertical side , next move up to the second layer just below the "v" shaped ridge and drill 8 more holes .
..............Now , position the bottom of the barrel about 3 inches above the ground so it will allow the fire to pull in air from the bottom and all sides . DONOT put anything in the barrel that is not burnable like metal can or glass
as it will only block the air holes and result in UNburned contents . Also , every so often you must dump out the ashes and residue from the barrel as it will just fillUP and block the air holes which results in a mess . I used an old , rusted wheel barrow without the axle or wheels for a lid to dispearse smoke and prevent embers from starting grass fires if you need to leave while it is still burning . , fordy

Maura · #34 04/22/08, 11:07 AM

Call Social Services. They have to come out within 24 hours. Call when the place is really bad, and after you've picked up all of the trash in your yard and put it back in theirs. They can hum and haw and say that they are burning all the trash tomorrow, but the worker will be able to see that there's stuff that's not supposed to be burned and that it is a health hazard to the children (meat wrappers, etc.).

Scrounger · #35 04/22/08, 11:38 AM

I'm on the other end of the stick. While my place is not "trashy", nor do I have garbage laying around......BUT....

I scrounge EVERYTHING. I have piles of things I have brought home. Right now, I am INUNDATED with wood and tin from a farmstead that was torn down near here last month. I have some old rusty machinery out back also.
If I have a particularly "junky" load of stuff, I make sure to drive by my brother's place with it. He's a Jones's chaser and just HATES it. I figure it's good for his digestion.....

It will take me a LONG time to get things straightened up after this last round of "stuff", but it will be worth it. I have already begun to use some of the materials, and they were just gonna "burn, pile, and bury".

I AM without a running lawn mower, however - and can't afford to buy one. If they'd promise not to eat the flowers, trees and other stuff they're not supposed to - I'd turn the goats loose in the yard!

annables · #36 04/22/08, 09:23 PM

I would be very careful about putting the trash back on their property. When we had a similar problem at one of our old houses my dad collected the garbage up and placed it back on their property. The woman promptly called the police and within an hour my dad was arrested and taken to jail BARE FOOT for vandalism. Luckily the judge saw through the nasty woman and only gave my dad a $35 fine. I would just recommend caution is all.

texican · #37 04/22/08, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maura

Call Social Services. They have to come out within 24 hours. Call when the place is really bad, and after you've picked up all of the trash in your yard and put it back in theirs. They can hum and haw and say that they are burning all the trash tomorrow, but the worker will be able to see that there's stuff that's not supposed to be burned and that it is a health hazard to the children (meat wrappers, etc.).

Why there you go... sick CPS on em... all for the safety of the 'children'... tell there's plural marriage going on... that there's children marrying old coots... Good Lord save them po chilluns...

naturewoman · #38 04/22/08, 11:29 PM

Burning plastic is highly toxic and not advisable for anyone to breath. But young children are more susceptible to damage to their lungs than adults. They are prone to asthma and other respiratory problems from toxins and irritants.

I don't have children, but if someone was burning plastic and their smoke was in my yard, I'd be calling someone. Fortunately, I live in a civilized neighborhood where people are intelligent enough not to do that.

4nTN · #39 04/23/08, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturewoman

Burning plastic is highly toxic and not advisable for anyone to breath. But young children are more susceptible to damage to their lungs than adults. They are prone to asthma and other respiratory problems from toxins and irritants.

I don't have children, but if someone was burning plastic and their smoke was in my yard, I'd be calling someone. Fortunately, I live in a civilized neighborhood where people are intelligent enough not to do that.

I`m dealing with this same problem.Neighbors,tons of household trash piled up in a big ugly mountain.They are to lazy to haul it off,or to cheap (our trashman charges $12.00 a month,pretty affordable I`d say)
Recently they dug a huge hole and pushed all the trash in and lit it on fire.It burned for days,toxic black smoke.I live in a high valley surrounded on all sides by high mt`s.The smoke just layed here for days,my family could not even go outside.
I couldn`t take anymore so I called the police,they said they had a burn permit.I said,"Not for the stuff they are burning,that`s illegal"!They said there was nothing they could do.So I called the EPA and talked with the Air Pollution Dept.The fire was out that day.Nothing done about all the buried trash though,at least not yet.
People think ,"Hey,it`s my land".But when it effects others today or 50 years(when the buried trash leachs into our water supply) from now it`s everyone`s buisness!People need to wake up and learn to be better stewards of OUR home.

Cygnet,while I don`t think running to the MAN an answer to everything it sounds like you have done everything a "good" neighboor could.Maybe a call to the EPA would help.

Sharon

Av8rTx · #40 04/23/08, 11:50 AM

I would not be surprised if there were drug related activity going on; Unsupervised children, adults "sleeping" at odd times, trash and debris around etc. Social services/CPS might be a more effective recourse in the long run.