Dear Editor,
Do you know why your neighbors are so concerned about proper trash disposal?
Improper disposal of trash can be unsightly and foul smelling, and lead to insect and animal problems. It can also lead to fines from city health departments.
Since the beginning of the fall semester, the Office of Community Relations has received a half dozen calls and emails from neighbors concerned about how Tufts renters manage their garbage, including concerns about garbage being placed outside in unsealed containers well before trash pickup days, loose garbage spilled out by animals left without being cleaned up, garbage that poses safety problems for children and pets such as half-eaten chicken wing bones and broken beer bottle glass on sidewalks and a box spring mattress left on a neighbor's property - to be someone else's problem! We've heard and seen it all!
The rat population in West Somerville and Medford's Hillside has increased over the years. Concerns about rodents in the neighborhoods are justifiably triggered by improper trash disposal. Here are some helpful "Trash Dos and Don'ts" to remember: Trash and recyclables should not be left outside in plastic or paper bags, but in barrels kept closed until pick up day. Barrels should be put out every week on the proper day for pickup. They must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your assigned trash pickup day. Don't put them out any sooner than the night before pickup. Barrels should be put away as soon as possible after pickup. They should be kept outside and, preferably, out of sight from the street. Don't leave barrels out for days. Call the city if you have larger items for disposal. Don't throw trash into back or side yards. If your house or apartment generates more trash than the barrel will hold, ask your landlord for additional barrels.
Long-time residents take pride in the appearance of their neighborhood, and you're part of the neighborhood too. Please take pride in where you live and take good care of your house. Help your neighbors keep your street clean. Contact Tufts Community Relations with any questions.
Sincerely,
Susan Fuller-DeAmato
Assistant Director of Community Relations at Tufts University
