What to Do When Your Trash Can Goes Missing After Pickup

trash

Immediate Steps to Take

  1. Verify the Situation
  • Confirm the trash can is actually missing
  • Check nearby areas (street, neighbors’ yards, behind bushes)
  • Verify it wasn’t accidentally moved during pickup
  1. Contact Local Waste Management
  • Call your local waste management provider
  • Provide specific details:
    • Date of last pickup
    • Location of missed container
    • Description of the trash can

Replacement Options

Most waste management companies offer:

  • Container replacement
  • Repair services
  • Temporary container loans

Prevention Tips

  • Mark your container with your address
  • Keep containers in a consistent, visible location
  • Ensure containers meet local waste management guidelines

Potential Causes of Missing Trash Cans

  • Pickup error
  • Wind displacement
  • Accidental removal
  • Theft

Stay calm and communicate with your local waste management service. Most issues can be quickly resolved with prompt communication.

Would you like me to refine this draft or provide more specific guidance?

FAQ

What do you do when someone steals your trash can?

  1. 1. Contact your waste management provider:
    If your trash and recycling bins are provided by a private company (like Waste Management or Republic Services), contact them directly to report the theft and inquire about a replacement. Some companies have online portals or phone numbers specifically for service requests. 

      • Waste Management
        https://www.wm.com
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      • Quora
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        Feb 1, 2022 — Call your trash company. They’ll replace it.

  2. 2. Contact your city’s sanitation department:
    If your bins are provided by your city or municipality, reach out to their sanitation department. You can often find contact information on their website or through a 311 or similar service line. 

      • LA County Public Works
        https://pw.lacounty.gov
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      • Quora
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        Notify the Local Council If your bin was provided by the council, contact them directly to report the theft. You may need to fill out an online form or call the…

  3. 3. File a police report:
    While your waste management provider will likely handle the replacement, filing a police report can be helpful, especially if you suspect the theft was intentional or if you want to document the incident for insurance purposes. 

      • Reddit
        https://www.reddit.com
        Someone stole my garbage can, Waste Management wants me to …
        May 23, 2019 — Likely waste management just needs the police report for insurance purposes. You can probably just report it to your local PD over the phone and get…

      • Reddit  ·  r/neighborsfromhell
        https://www.reddit.com
        My neighbor stole my trash can! : r/neighborsfromhell – Reddit
        Jan 19, 2025 — Get the police involved before it escalates further. That is theft and if she’s willing to come 3 doors down who knows what’s next.

      • YouTube  ·  KRIS 6 News
        https://www.youtube.com
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        Apr 21, 2023 — but I posted on the Next Door app and other people have said “Yeah they’ve heard about that. sometimes people want a second trash can so they’ll ste…

  4. 4. Consider preventative measures:
    Once you have a replacement, you might want to consider marking it with your address or using a unique identifier to deter future theft. 

      • Quora
        https://www.quora.com
        What happens if someone steals your trash can?
        Feb 28, 2021

      • Facebook
        https://www.facebook.com
        What to do when someone steals your garbage can? – Facebook
        Sep 27, 2024 — When they were first delivered numbers went into a database tied to the house address. If city has to they can look up numbers in the office and fin…

How do I retrieve my trash bin?

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How do I get a new trash can in Albuquerque?What can I do if my trash cart is lost or damaged? Request online with the cart issues form on this website or contact ABQ311 by calling 311 (505-768-2000) or on the ABQ311 mobile app. If your trash cart is lost, stolen, or damaged, the City of Albuquerque offers residents a one-time replacement cart for no charge.

How much is it to get a new garbage can?A typical price for Trash Cans is $84 but can range from approximately $6 to $1,158.

Garbage can missing after garbage pickup
byu/Seventh_Stone inRoundRock

Our garbage can gone missing after garbage pickup. We have no idea what happened. Do you guys know where can I get a new one?

https://www.wm.com/us/en/support/faqs/service-questions/how-do-i-get-my-container-repaired

Residential container service request. For customers that receive a bill from WM you must log in to make a container repair/replacement request through My WM.

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