Garbage removal suggestions

[Carl C.]

Hi everyone. I have a rental house with 4 boys in it. This is their first time living on their own and as a result, they have had to learn how to take the trash out and so far have failed miserably. I pay for garbage and recycling collection which comes once every week. I asked for the largest can the company provides but the guys still seem to make an amazing amount of trash. The garbage company won't pick up trash if it isn't in their can (so no extra bags if they don't fit). The boys claim they missed one week of putting the trash out and now they can't catch up because it won't fit in the can. Walking through the house the other week, they had 15 bags of garbage in the basement waiting to go out. I told them that was unacceptable as it will attract rodents and moved the bags to the detached garage. Neighbors tell me they rarely see the garbage being put out which doesn't really surprise me because, well, they're college kids. Now one of the parents wants me to get an additional can so all the garbage can be thrown out and the current backlog doesn't happen again. Overall the tenants are very good and I've had no trouble with their parents. I'd like to find a solution that is mutually acceptable but I really think this has happened because they missed several weeks of putting the trash out. Anyone ever deal with something similar? Any suggestions for how I can deal with this diplomatically? 

[Marcia Maynard]

Schedule an extra pickup and require them to pay for it. You have already fulfilled your end of the agreement by paying for weekly service. If they are generating that much garbage they might not be recycling as much as they could or could be collecting the garbage of friends too.

Another option. Tell them they must take all of the bags to the dump and dispose of them at their expense. Or do this yourself and bill them.

Then be swift, fair and firm in enforcing the terms of the rental agreement. Let them know if this happens again, they will be getting a legal notice to comply with the terms of the rental agreement.