Trash Bins Damaged in Portsmouth, NH – Disrespect of Property or Part of the Job?

Many have experienced the frustration of setting out their garbage bins on the curb for the day, only to come home and find them on their side, broken, in the middle of the road.

When one Portsmouth, New Hampshire community member posted a public complaint about it, the city got loud...on both sides of the debate.

On May 27th, a Portsmouth, NH community member posted in the (unofficial) City of Portsmouth, NH Facebook group. The post was a picture of broken trash bins and a complaint that they must have sent out the "B-Team."

I got a chuckle out of the post because...mine were broken the very same day!

Like the community, I was torn. I was pretty frustrated since I bought them just a month ago. On the other hand, though, I thought, "Is this just part of the homeowner gig?" The public seemed torn on this situation, too.

Many were commenting that it was lazy or a "Memorial Day weekend hangover." Others doubled down, saying that it was disrespectful to the homeowner's personal property, the trash bins.

On the complete other side were people jumping to the waste management's defense. Arguing that they have one of the hardest jobs of all time. And they do.

Trash and recycling services are out every week, rain or shine, snow or sleet, to pick up our trash! So many people criticized the person who originally posted a complaint.

To add, Portsmouth, NH offers some of the best community perks: free dumping at the recycling center, free trash and recycling pick up, and we don't have to buy special bags for trash...just normal bags.

The post was edited just days later that it was in fact a "B-Team"...the highway department covered local routes due to the holiday.

The question remains: should waste management services be more careful, slow, and "respectful..." or is having your trash bin tossed around and getting cracks once in a while part of the deal?

You tell me.