Ask Amy: Old-fashioned Values Are Out With The Trash

Dear Amy: We are an older, retired couple living in a townhouse condominium complex. As such we have individual garbage/recycling pick up. We do not generate much garbage or recycling. Our cans rarely fill up more than 50 percent. We have noticed that our garbage and recycling cans frequently get filled up with other residents’ garbage/recycling to the point where the lids are up, with garbage bags hanging out over the edge. We do pay for our garbage, and like everyone else in the complex, we buy the smallest can available. Is it old-fashioned to be upset by this? It’s not so much the fact that folks are using our cans, although I would prefer the amount in the cans not exceed the ability to close the lid. It’s the fact that no one bothers to come by and ask our permission. It just seems rude to use our cans without our permission. I’d be happy to help out, but is it just old-fashioned to want to be asked first? — Peeved Related Articles Ask Amy: Grandfather gets a new wife and a new will Ask Amy: Procrastinator will definitely get to it later Ask Amy: Enabling mom creates extreme family imbalance Ask Amy: Mother in recovery struggles with amends Ask Amy: Father-in-law wants to issue premarital warning Dear Peeved: Why are you so concerned by being perceived as “old-fashioned”?