Some things I really, truly love about Mount Clemens. But there is something that I miss about Clinton Township. It sounds trivial, but I miss the ability to put my trash on my curb when I want.
I just recently cleaned out my upstairs loft, just because a lot of crap had accumulated from regular living, parties, etc. It had to go. So I threw out five bags of garbage and went on my merry way. The next day there was a nice note left for me by the city, a “newsletter” that gives you all the answers ‘you’ needed regarding refuse, compost, and recycling.
How nice of them to take time out of their busy day to give a shit.
I knew we were not allowed to use trash cans, but the fact that NO trash can be placed on the curb until the night before is just ridiculous. Especially since it includes “bulk items”, such as furniture or washing machines. What are we supposed to do with said old washing machine until trash day? Leave it on the lawn somewhere? Put it outside, in the way only to have to move it later?
Here’s my biggest problem with this. Lets say trash day is on Monday (my trash day might very well be Monday. To be honest, I really don’t know.). The newsletter states (and they even highlighted it) that: under no circumstance is any type of refuse to be placed at the curb before 6:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection day. That means every Sunday night is open season for garbage pickers.
They come out like vampires at nightfall, with their bikes, beat up pick up trucks, or vans that look more like a permanent residence than they do transportation. Picking up not just the old chairs and hot water heaters but going through anything that is out on the curb.
I’m fortunate enough to be able to put my trash on North Avenue, at a fairly busy intersection. So vans stopping by the side of the road is not a common occurrence. However, for many of my neighbors on streets close by, it is. Government policies like this set a small time table that creates an open season for this kind of stuff. In reality, all this does is inconvenience residents.
My favorite part is the last little bit that’s highlighted: If I do it again, they’re going to come pick it up and charge me for it. No way around it, that’s just bullshit.
The letter they sent me is below, click on it to download a PDF version.
The City of Mount Clemens Refuse Policy:
