Where Are All The Garbage Cans?

mha

Ever since Hurricane Irene, I've noticed that the iron street garbage containers are missing on almost every corner here in Crown Heights. I thought that they were removed because of the hurricane, and the credible concern that the cans themselves could be the cause of damage to persons or property. But that was some time ago. Now I'm wondering if they were stolen to be sold as scrap metal. Some years ago I read an article in the New York Press that metal highway medians were often taken for the dollar value they have as scrap metal.

Sadly, now in Jamaica, this has become a major problem. Iron manhole covers, bars covering windows, etc, are stolen to be sold as scrap metal to China.

I'm wondering if anyone has a better explanation for the 'Mystery of the missing containers'.

xlizellx

They definitely weren't taken before the hurricane -- the sanitation department turned them over and pushed them against buildings, they didn't remove them. I notice it as well, but hadn't put it together as to the timing. Not sure what happened....

whynot_31

I have heard that many were removed because the Dept of Sanitation has been forced to cut back the number of pickups it does, and removing them is a way to prevent them from overflowing as a result.

Eventually, I fear people will just litter because they can not find a can and/or because the people have already littered on the street.

The more organized communities will put out their own cans, empty them on their own, and then put the trash collected out on trash day even though this process is lots of work and expensive.

paraderest

They were certainly removed as a precaution in the hours before Irene hit NY. I saw the removal with my own two eyes.

armchair_warrior

the metal stealing part could be plausible, they would steal anything these days for money.

mha

What's happening in my neck of the woods is that people are putting garbage where the trash cans once stood. I tell you, we are a hair's breadth away from bedlam.

nearnostrand

Interesting...In my neck of the nabe they didn't take our cans for Irene, just turned them up-side down and we still actually have them - but now turned right-side up.

tjaded

Where I am, the "hurricane" didn't even knock over the empty cans.

We had 4 cans on each of our street corners, one promptly went missing - the people down the block decided they wanted a can on their corner, so they moved it down the street. We moved it back, only to have it stolen again, not sure where it is now. People love appropriating trash cans it seems, but don't trash cans have to be along an actual trash pick-up route for them to be emptied?

whynot_31

tjaded wrote:

don't trash cans have to be along an actual trash pick-up route for them to be emptied?

By the city, yes.

However, some people get tired of seeing all the litter on their block and then take steps to solve it:

1. They swipe a city trash can.

2. They put it out on a corner that they want a trash can, but on which the city won't put one because it lacks the will or the resources.

3. They empty it themselves when it becomes full.

4. They put the collected trash out with their household's trash on trash day.

....I don't know how often it happens, but I can say I have helped a friend of mine "liberate" a trash can for this very purpose by lending him my grinder to cut the chain.

Of course, I only learned of how he used it AFTER the fact.

mha

I guess a battery of 311 calls would help, but God knows I no longer have the patience for the automated recordings. I'll try submitting an inquiry online on the morrow; whose with me?

whynot_31

If 311 tells you they don't have anymore garbage cans to replace the missing ones, you are welcome to borrow my grinder.

My building also has a bolt cutter which the super has lent me in the past with no questions asked.

If you choose to tell me how you use these items, please do so only AFTER the fact.

whatchuwant

I'm with you MHA. My theory was that they removed them for Irene and then kept them off because of the parade (I'm only speaking for EP, btw). They have yet to return them though, so I really hope that this news of cutbacks is incorrect.

tateinbk

I've seen a couple return to EP in the last few days. I fastidiously pick up after my dog so I have them all mapped out in my mind.

whatchuwant

tateinbk said:

I fastidiously pick up after my dog so I have them all mapped out in my mind.

Ha! Me too, tate! I've noticed them slowly return as well, but have yet to see them on my stretch of the block.

bklyn50

I was told several months ago (by a Sanit. supv. who is since retired) that the steel garbage cans are "sometimes" stolen to be used in the construction of barbecue pits.

The other possibility, previously mentioned, is the stealing of metal to be sold off.

bklyn50

I just notified Community Board (8) about this thread

If you call/post to 311, send your confirmation # to CB8 so that they have ammo to work this issue.

CB8 <[email protected]>

mha

Wow! I'll do that! I totally forgot to call/post to the 311 site; terribly busy day. I'll do it tomorrow. I've written down the email address to ensure Community Board 8 is aware. Great idea.

Whynot makes a great point about the amount of garbage that often fills those container. On Franklyn, they are almost always filled, which, if you ask me, is proof positive that a robust merchants association that can hire a fledgling crew of folk to keep them clean ain't such a bad idea. Especially since so much of the litter is generated by the merchants themselves. Ah well, fodder for another thread perhaps.

xlizellx

I actually noticed this on Franklin yesterday ... I was running late and finished my breakfast on my walk to the train. I was ready to throw away my trash at the corner of Park and Franklin. I had to walk the full 4 blocks to Eastern Parkway until I found a trash can on either side of the street. There is an online form for requesting trash cans ....

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/html/contact/requests_litter.shtml

You'd have to do it block by block, corner by corner, but it may help too.

whynot_31

If the city does not come through, and stealing some other neighborhood's garbage can is determined to be not the way we want to go, I suppose we could have this guy ship us some:

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330528164293&index=3&nav=SEARCH&nid=19062761729

With shipping it would be $55 a can. That seems like a lot to me, but I couldn't find any listed on our local Craigslist.

It will be much easier and cheaper if the city comes thru.

whynot_31

If the city does not come through, and stealing some other neighborhood's garbage can is determined to be not the way we want to go, I suppose we could have this guy ship us some:

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330528164293&index=3&nav=SEARCH&nid=19062761729

With shipping it would be $55 a can. That seems like a lot to me, but I couldn't find any listed on our local Craigslist.

It will be much easier and cheaper if the city comes thru.

homeowner

All the baskets are back on Nostrand, and overflowing. Maybe some folks over here took the Franklin ones!

whynot_31

Homeowner-

If people decide to steal cans, I do not think it matters whether the replacement cans originated around Franklin Avenue.

I also imagine that such a mission would be easiest to achieve right after the cans have been emptied.

BTW, I think the best way to get me to lend out my grinder (or get the building's bolt cutter) would be to tell me you were going to work on a art project. I like art.

drzais

Iron garbage cans are a hazard to the environment not to mention a complete eyesore. Have your landlord switch over to the new cans made out of compressed recyclable paper. The new cans are as durable as plastic but biodegrade once discarded into our landfills.

eastbloc

Iron is completely biodegradable, in fact, you could say it's already 'degraded' -- it's the most abundant element on the planet. It's also far more durable than plastic or compressed paper, and harder to spirit away.

whynot_31

Street trash problems nearby

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/38/dtg_seventhavetrash_2011_09_23_bk.html

homeowner

The Department of Sanitation weighs in on garbage cans for Franklin Avenue.

Adding More Trash Cans Won't Clean Up Franklin Avenue

pragmaticguy

Well, there was a semi-riot in front of my office on St. Johns and Troy last Thursday about 4pm where they beat the crap out of one guy with one of those sanitation cans but by the time the cops showed up everyone was gone and they did put the can back.

whynot_31

So many things happen that never get recorded.....

homeowner

PragmaticGuy said:

Well, there was a semi-riot in front of my office on St. Johns and Troy last Thursday about 4pm where they beat the crap out of one guy with one of those sanitation cans but by the time the cops showed up everyone was gone and they did put the can back.

Gives new meaning to Volunteer Clean-Up Program. I don't think that's quite what DSNY had in mind when they said:

Volunteer clean-up events, organized by neighborhood associations, not only help keep

neighborhoods clean, but are also the source of great community pride. They provide a

wonderful opportunity for bringing neighbors together and building lasting relationships, while

encouraging volunteers to continue in their efforts to beautify and improve their community.

newguy88

PragmaticGuy said:

Well, there was a semi-riot in front of my office on St. Johns and Troy last Thursday about 4pm where they beat the crap out of one guy with one of those sanitation cans but by the time the cops showed up everyone was gone and they did put the can back.

Well they did it put it back. I'm sure that counts for something.