Ask Amy special: We're talking trash  November 09, 2005|By Amy
Dickinson   Q. Are trash cans in the alley fair game? Can I
throw a handful of candy wrappers in a stranger's bin? How about
a bag of dog poop?  A. An episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
busted this issue wide open when Larry David tossed an apple
core into a person's garbage can as he was walking past. The
neighbor angrily confronted him, and hilarity ensued.
Unfortunately, in real life, hilarity seldom ensues. While it is
OK to toss a candy wrapper into a garbage can (make sure the
coast is clear before tossing), it is not OK to toss your doggie
business into a personal trash can.  Q. On the night before
garbage pickup day, if our receptacles are full, I slip a bag of
garbage or recyclables into my neighbors'. She lives alone and
never fills her container. Is that ethical?  A. The garbage can,
even when provided by the waste hauling company, sits on your
neighbor's property and is intended for her use alone. Garbage
cans (and the garbage in them)