The Dirty Half-Dozen

Posted by – Dale Mathes, Code Enforcement Officer

When it get’s messy, people call us.

As Code Enforcement Officers, we are charged with enforcing a number of City Ordinances.  These standards are necessary because blighting factors directly impact the quality of life, crime rate, and property values of our community.  You may be suprised by some of the issues we are called to address over the course of a year.

However, many of the situations we deal with are rather routine for us.  We refer to these violations as “The Dirty Half-Dozen.”  One of these top six common violations involves improperly stored garbage and rubbish.

Let’s define our terms first.

1. Garbage is generally food waste.  You know, the liver that little Johnny wouldn’t finish or the forgotten cheese that was growing penicillin in the back of the fridge.
2. Rubbish is solid, non-food wastes; basically, all the other stuff you toss out that’s not garbage.

   

Because garbage can get nasty, the City Code requires it to be stored in sealed containers.  Rubbish, however, may be stored in plastic bags or paper disposal bags when in an enclosed structure or at the curb on pickup day.

Now that the City has contracted with a single trash collector, be sure to avoid putting your garbage and rubbish out more than 24-hours in advance of your collection day.  That way you’re not feeding unwanted critters or having your rubbish blow all over the neighborhood.

With a little thought and preparation when dealing with your trash disposal, you can do your part in keeping Auburn Hills beautiful.  If you see this type of problem in your neighborhood, feel free to call us at 248-364-6900.

Coming Soon:  Those cars that aren’t quite ready for the junkyard, but aren’t exactly street legal either – The Dreaded Inoperable Vehicle!