Let’s be honest, trash stinks. And while it’s perfectly normal to see garbage bins lining the street on trash day, no one likes to look at overflowing bins every day. Most of the homeowners in the Association are responsible about pulling their bins in after the trash is picked up, but there is on occasion homeowners who prefer to leave the bins at the curb or visible from the street.  Even further, there have been occasions where loose garbage is left in the yards. The goal of this Association is to keep the community clean and the best looking, and it’s the Board responsibility to help make that happen.  Here are three reasons the Association should care about trash bin storage.

(1) Trashy looking (pun intended) – People who chronically leave their bins out on the street, in driveways, or where people can see them can damage curb appeal. When trash starts to pile up in someone’s yard, whether it’s in an overflowing bin or scattered around the bins, it can damage the appearance of the neighborhood and hurt someones intention to sell their home at the expected price.

(2) Identity theft –It’s important to remember that trash may contain information from bank statements and other very personal information that someone could take and use to steal your identity. While this may seem unlikely, it’s been reported to happen. Storing garbage bins in the garage or behind fences or shrubs is one of the simplest ways to prevent identity theft. If they can’t see or get to your garbage or recycling bins, they can’t easily steal information from them.

(3) Hungry critters – There are always hungry animals who view garbage as a great source for food. Garbage bins left in driveways are a more likely target for loose dogs and raccoons. Garbage left in yards can attract rats.  Placing bins inside garages and even behind fences can slow down rummaging animals and help avoid a bigger mess.