I swear this isn't going to turn into a trash-reporting-only blog (much to Christina Hagar's chagrin... you know she called me the next day to see if I would make the original trash post a weekly thing, right?). But... early this afternoon (a Saturday) I walked literally a block and saw all of this. I couldn't stop myself from snapping some quick pics.

NOTE (for those of you not in the know): Trash is picked up three times a week in the North End: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So trash put out on Saturday/Friday night will be on the streets for up to 70 hours. Gross.

First this HUGE cardboard box on Foster Street that had blown into the road:

Awesome. Can't wait to look at that all weekend. Thanks Foster CT residents. I think I looked at an apartment there once that was owned by the lawyer - or whatever he is - on the first floor on Commercial St on the other side. It was a shithole. There's also a bag of trash a bit up the street on the right.

Some new folks just moved into the apartment at 472 Commercial. They promptly put out some flower pots on either side of their door. Nice! Then promptly put their trash next to them... on a Saturday. Not nice!

How do I know it's their trash and not someone who lives next door? Because they put their pizza delivery box with their address facing up!:

Doh! Seriously though, maybe you're new. Here's a link to the North End trash regulations on Matt Conti's awesome neighborhood blog. The owner really should have provided you with a copy when you rented the place.

This was at the corner of Greenough Lane and Commercial. Surprised?

What a disaster! I don't know where to start - other than the fact that I DON'T want to know what's in that water bottle.

I had to include this one too - from a few weeks ago. For some reason, the City of Boston decided to surround ONE tree on Commercial Street (near the end of Greenough Lane) with a fence. I have no idea why they singled out this one tree. It looks ridiculous and the other trees are probably jealous. Anyway, it didn't take long for our friends on Greenough Lane to put it to good use (this was taken at about 9:45 AM on a Wednesday - well after trash pickup):

I have no idea what the intended purpose of this fence is, but I'm pretty sure it isn't this. Stay classy Greenough (and City Suites - who owns most of the property there).

Nice title. "Adam Balsam: North End Blogger". I like the ring of that.

I want to point out that the essence of the original blog post was that there is nearly 100% non-compliance and next to zero repercussions.

My stance is that we should change the laws to reflect what is really being ticketed (gross non-compliance) or enforce the laws that we currently have (which we clearly aren't). I trust that our elected officials can figure out which is more prudent.

What drives me nuts is the current situation. The situation in which I'm told that I can't put trash out in a white bag but not told exactly why - and, most importantly, not punished if I do. That doesn't exactly instill a sense of confidence in those making the decisions.

All the residents of the North End received this flyer in January reminding us of the trash ordinances in the neighborhood.

Notably:

• Trash is collected Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings
• Trash must be placed in a black 2-ply plastic bag
• The bag must be tied (secured)
• (implicitly) there can be no loose trash
• Recycling should be secured in a clear plastic bag and only put out on Fridays (Thursday nights)

I walked from my apartment to Shop MFI (see map at left) at about 8 PM on Sunday night. I took a picture of every bag/box/large piece of trash I saw on the way there. The table below is what I found.

100% non-compliance. Every one of the properties with trash out at 8PM between Commercial CT (where I live) and Shop MFI (on Lower Salem) was in violation of the Green Ticket Bill and are subject to fines between $25 and $40.

As someone who has fought the North End rodent problem first-hand and who is disgusted by the litter on Foster Street (among others), I understand the need for strict trash codes. But why bother having them if they are simply ignored? And chatter about random blatant violations doesn't mean it's being addressed. It looks to me like 100% non-compliance with next to zero repercussions.

I started this post with addresses included. But, first of all, they would be estimates. Second, I'm not trying to call out landlords or tenants - I'm just confused as to why we have these ordinances and fines on the books but make no effort to enforce them. (and third, I'm sure most residents can figure out which buildings are which)

Key: BT = Bag Type, BC = Bag Closed, LT = Loose Trash, RV = Recycling Violation

Photo	Comments	BT	BC	LT	RV
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	Good bags, but the box is loose trash
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply loose trash
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply Loose trash Appears that the paper bag is recycling set out on the wrong night and not in sealed clear platic bag.
	Good secured bags, but the portruding white rod makes it unsecured/loose
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply Loose trash
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	This isn't even real trash. It's phone books that were delivered two months ago still sitting on the stoop.
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	This person appears to have done everything correctly - 2-ply black bag, recycling separated in a clear plastic bag, all properly sealed. The only problem is that recycling can only be set out on Fridays
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	Unsecured
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply Bag not closed
	Kitchen Bags/white/not 2-ply The box is loose trash
	I don't know what this is