How Not to Use a Trash Compactor
As reported earlier, my apartment complex has a large trash compactor at the entrance to the parking lot. Here is where everyone is supposed to dispose of their household garbage. Since the last time I wrote about this subject, the management has finally gotten the compactor working. Thus no more need for a dumpster parked right next to the compactor. Unfortunately, I think people are using the compactor incorrectly.
What you are supposed to do, is walk (or drive) your trash to the front of the complex, open the compactor’s door, toss in your trash, and close the door. But apparently, no one follows this logic. Instead, people just leave their garbage on the ground right in front of the compactor. And once one person does this, everyone else follows suit. Then after a while, there will be so much trash on the ground in front of the compactor, that I can’t even access the compactor door to throw my own trash into it. Thus, I must join in the trash free-for-all by leaving my garbage on the ground as well.
I just don’t understand what can cause a person to just leave their garbage on the ground when they can easily access the door to properly dispose of it. That’s like loading the dishwasher, filling up the soap container, and saying, “I think I’ll just go play hackey sack instead.” Just finish the job! You’ve taken the garbage this far, just open the door, and throw it in! There aren’t any buttons to press, no dials to turn, no levers to pull. Just a door and chute. You don’t even have to push it into the compactor. Since the chute is vertical in design, gravity will do the rest!
Damn I wish I had a digital camera so I could share in the chaos.
Technorati: trash compactor, garbage, apartment
I say you make a sign and put something like “Your mom does not work here, please put your trash in the compactor!” Just a thought…
Haha! That would be great. But I’m not sure anyone would listen. People never want to change.
Yet again, proof that people are idiots!
I like the sign idea — that would be hillarious! — have you tried it yet?
Not yet, I’m too much of a wuss to actually do anything. Its just so much easier to complain and make fun of people instead of being proactive.
Eric,
Sometimes you have trouble seeing the forrest for the trees, people are LAZY!!
[...] the area we lived in was very nice. But then I noticed an issue with the trash compactor (as noted here and here). When the compactor was full, people tended to leave their garbage on the ground in front [...]
[...] few related postings (1, 2, 3). Posted in trashcompactor, apartment, garbage [...]
So… What is stopping you from putting your trash AND EVERYONE ELSE’S trash in the trash compactor? Be an agent for change! Eventually, most will get the message and put their trash in the compactor. There will be a few that won’t, of course - as Mom says, “…people are LAZY!” but at least you won’t have to see/smell other people’s trash. Putting up a sign as well should help reduce the problem, too.