solar trash compactors on Frankford Ave & Susquehanna

Sealed shut? As in, epoxy or superglue?

Seems like a pretty simple case of public vandalism/destruction of property to me. Can it be proved? Police contacted?

If it indeed was that guy, which we haven't really yet established - what a schmuck.

Yeah, I guess you can't go much further than that right now even if it seems obvious he's the perp. Maybe a little note suggesting people are onto his antics couldn't hurt? That's pretty ridiculous (not to mention more than a little nutty and illegal)

So I just went down to check this out. I removed one of the straps and then he starts yelling at me. He had a hammer in his hand.

I backed up and he said "What are you doing? I seal those, don't open them. I have an auto-immune problem and they are killing me!"

I'm backing up and tell him I was removing the straps so the public could use the public property. Man, he lost it. Came after me a few steps with the hammer, told me he "Would take care of me!". Then starts saying "How long have you lived here?!". I almost laughed.

He couldn't really even walk. His balance is off. Totally gone. I remember he was odd about 10 years ago, his wife seemed nice. I've been in his house a couple of times, he wanted to open up a vegetarian take out place there. We were talking about it.

So the strap is off the one, but I'm sure he will put it back on soon, he told me he put the ones on there now an he was going to keep people away.

Total nut. Do not approach or confront. For those of you who know me, I don't usually walk away, but he has no logic left.

I really believe that a 911 call is needed. This guy might harm someone who is just walking by and puts something in the receptacle. Call the district and ask to speak with a supervisor (Corporal is always inside) to give them the heads up about this guy. 215 686 3260

On your advice I called the general 911 number and someone must have called already because I got the same operator!! What are the odds. She said someone called about it, but they where going to send streets. I told them he came after me with a hammer and she said, 'That's it, I'm sending a squad car".

I gave her the heads up that he is not right, so the cops will be ready.

A public... self contained trash can... is the source of all his health problems?

Oooookay.

Stock, I just don't want someone who doesn't know what the heck is going on to put something in there and he go off on them. He does have some mental issues going on to behave like that.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is the end of the story.

I am really sorry to hear about all of this. Mental illness can be tough to deal with, especially when it effects the public realm so directly. Lets keep our fingers crossed that the police treat the situation as delicately and respe lly as they can, perhaps that will provide some relief.

this guy is a loon guess he is getting worse.

eventually trash will just pile up around the trashcans, guessing he won't like that any better

we planted a tree in front of his house last year with PTP... he was def a strange bird.

I just a found a new place to leave dog poop without picking it up. #tellyourfriends

guy is a total nutjob. making sure to cross the street whenever I see him outside

went by it just a few minutes ago. looks like people have begun egging the trashcans.

I wish THIS post would earn a plug on Philebrity

Just those outside his place or others as well?

just the ones directly on his door step. the one across the street near Soup Kitchen seemed unscathed.

So, like, litter conscious egg thrower?

There's always Friends

New deal with the city. I'll be OK with the tax increase if you use it to create trash compacting transformers who eat heroin dealers and (digestiveally produce...seriously?!? My Nun was less strict when I was a kid than this filter!) anti-psychotics. We have the technology, do we have the courage?

What would it take to move the compactor from his property? You have established that the man has mental issues ...why not help a neighbor in need and get it moved. Just asking because I have no idea what this would cost.
Are they really on his step???

One of the most compassionate statements I have ever read on here. Thank you jbette for pointing out that this is an issue of mental illness not just a blatant disregard of the changes of time.

I asked him that. Why not ask them to move it. He said they would not, but it may have been his approach?

I think no one will notice if someone just goes over and moves it to the corner opposite or mid-block. We (us the taxpayer) paid money out of our Wage Tax to put those things there. They were paid for by contract out of the City's general fund.

Sounds like a good plan.

True . He may freak if someone moves it also but at least it will be in service.

thing is there is a reason it is placed on that corner. It is a bus stop mid block or on the NE corner it is far less likely to be used. As much as I understand this is a mental health issue I just don't think it is OK to accommodate one persons issues at the expense of something that makes sense for the whole area. Next he will want the bus stop moved.

I gotta agree with lighterthief on this one. I'm not insensitive to the issues of mental health, especially since my family is dealing with a relative who is in the throws of very serious mental health issues right now, but there has to be a point at which the majority rules. It's one thing if someone is just quirky, but when they become a danger, one accommodation can quickly turn into a million concessions that affect the quality of life for everyone in the area. I know this seems like just a garbage can right now, but reading the accounts of how this guys has acted recently makes me think that it won't stop here.

They guy will have no way of getting the bus stop moved from his house. It doesn't matter how over the rails you are, SEPTA will always win. (Look how hard the battle was for trans people just to remove the sex sticker from SEPTA Transpasses)

I know not one person on here would want those on your door step !
That being said I also from experience would never buy a house with a bus route on it , knowing full well that your steps and sidewalk will never be solely for your own use ever !

The bus passes in front of my house but since the end of the line is 2 blocks down there's hardly anyone ever on it. If you're gonna live on FKD, you do realize that street has been a highway since, like... forever.

Update: There is now a board screwed into it.

That board was there yesterday afternoon.

So were the eggs. Let's guess who put them there.

Oy.

For the record, include me among those sympathetic to people with mental issues. If they are not being treated, they truly are not aware of their behavior being inappropriate and/or antisocial.

BUT also agreed everyone else does not just have to defer to that. I think this guys needs a public intervention and that trash receptacle need to be reclaimed pronto.

Just be glad the target of his angst is a trashcan, not another neighbor. Although I would hate to be that guy's neighbor.

So he is anti-recycling, but pro-trash?

I haven't read through this entire thread yet...but, does anyone mention his reasoning for doing this? Other than his mental illness? I actually walk through this intersection all the time and have never noticed that he does these things. I'll have to pay more attention. There are trashcans across the street so maybe these need to be moved to another place (*cough* palmer cemetary) where they won't be destroyed.

Dont be putting them at the cemetery..we got rid of the ones that were there..people overflowing them with trash.

Well, we wouldn't want that now...people using the trash... I don't think the problem there was with people using the trash, that is the entire purpose of it, but with the city emptying them more often. There should be trash cans there.

Let them put one in front of your house .the city did empty them quite often .But as i said PEOPLE abused using them from household trash to overflowing dog feces.

I actually put a trash can myself right in front of my house! Hahahaha!! I want people to use it! Please, use it! Don't throw it on the ground! Fill the trash can to the top!! Please! Seriously - that's just idiotic to not want trash cans in your immediate vicinity.

I will let everyone know just post your address. Then myself and everyone else can bring our trash over on trash day. Fill the can to the top ?

Hahahaha!! And that's what's left of your argument. Sad.

NO. Both were covered, I removed the metal strap from the trash one when he came at me. I was about the remove the wood from the recycling when I had to stop. I don't know how to post pictures here. I'll send the original to someone to post.

Open carry my friend, open carry
:)

That makes alot more sense. From the picture it looks like only the recycling section is blocked.

Well your the one that wants to be The Trash Crusader. You just dont get it. PEOPLE driving by throwing HOUSEHOLD TRASH IN THE CANS OVERFLOWING CANS WITH DOG FECES..that smell. its called common sense because PEOPLE ABUSE THEM. Yours truly The Trash Nazi.

if peeps throw household trash in, then there should be one of those wire lids on top with a small 6" diameter hole just so you can get cups/newspapers/etc in there. Case solved. You're welcome.

Thank you. This is bonkers, hahaha!

have you ever walked down huntingdon by the arts hotel? that guy puts out trashcans up and down the whole street. sadly the 6 inch cutout doesn't stop people from piling their household trash on top of the lid and blocking it completely. that man is a saint.

that stinks. the peeps fitting their trash in that hole must be really determined to avoid using a normal garbage can. I fail to see what the aversion is to using weekly garbage collection.

There is a trash can on my street with a hole in the lid. There is also an open recycling bin next to it. We never have a problem. Also, a trash COMPACTOR would make it easier for us to throw trash in there (allowing more space for more trash) but at the same time would keep peoples household trash bags out of there because they won't fit in the door. It would also help with the smell. The cemetary needs a trash can. JUST ONE.

It's typical that apartment dwellers have no place to put their trash...bad landlords. You know how much it can stink up your house in the Summer. They see a trash can and it seems obvious. We tried putting out cans throughout EKNA and every one of them was used for household trash. The cans actually made the trash issue worse.

I'd be plenty mad if the city cans were installed in front of my place. I agree that they should be moved, while understanding it's a bus stop. Those things should only be placed in front of commercial buildings.

Totally agree, they should not be put in front of private residences.

I have to disagree. Frankford is a commercial corridor and an artery. They are not being installed on side streets. Applying a 'not in front of my house' policy is a slippery slope.

I really don't find it a bother to have a the trashcan in front of my house. Maybe my block is exceptional or something, but I've never seen household trash in it and people use it constantly, so it's worked out quite well. In the proposal of the trash cans at the Palmer Cemetery, that wouldn't be in front of anyone's house, so no worries there.

Yes!

not really there is an entire perimeter of houses around it, albiet across the street, but still there. the residents tried to maintain cans there but, like 2014 said, it made it worse. I know because I was one of those residents. the city didnt empty them. we did. we couldnt keep up.

Then that is something that needs to brought up with the city, not abandoned.

and you'd be surprised how heavy a few hundred baggies of dog poo are. Seriously. ...and it wasnt just household trash that became a problem. there were car batteries, air conditioners, tires, contruction debris and other gooey gross smelly heavy bags of unidentifiable matter. It became a dumping ground.

good luck with that. it was residents along the cemetery who were trying do a nice thing but other people ruined it. the city had nothing to do with it and i doubt given their current financial state that they would be willing to put money into supporting public trashcans around the cemo.

So... taking the cans away keeps the household trash from getting in there... but where's the trash going now that the cans are gone?

People's basements? Roofs? Yards?

In there cars, they look for a place to illegally dump the trash.

I understand it's a commercial corridor but there are numerous spots that these could be moved to that wouldn't have a negative impact on residents. Not sure if there is one at Dauphin/Frankford but that would be a better spot. Right next to the bus shelter and AC Auto. What is to be gained going to war with this man. He's obviously not going to give up and someone could either get hurt, he ends up in jail or both. Is it really worth it?

Or just move them over to the next property which is commercial.

They are not worth anyone getting injured.

Rambo VII: Trash Wars

Someone needs to paint images of bacterial spores all over the cans!

There is one at Dauphin & Frankford ...walk past it every day. It is really stinky.

So I kind of understand the frustration, but the method to address it is a little kooky.

If we could pin die who is responsible for emptying them, and to get it to happen more often, might be the better thing to figure out & address.

what a train wreck.

Yeah, haha!

Sounds like this is something that hasn't even been tried, just assumed that it won't happen? So residents put the trash cans there and maintained them and that was it? Is that what you're telling me happened? If I lived around the cemetery I would DEFINITELY try to get the city to put some trash cans there. It is such a high traffic area. Also, don't know if you noticed the increase in trash that is crammed in the sewer entrances around that area since the trash cans have been gone....connection? I think prooooooooobably so.

My neighbor use to keep a trash can out on the corner of Thompson and Columbia. He kept it clean, swept the street, never an issue. He was fined. We all pitched in to pay the fine, but still, crazy.

Is he a young guy or an older guy?
I only ask because I saw a guy standing on the step, dancing, in the rain, while eating a bowl of something, last week, and was wondering if it was him?

He'd OLDER

that's definitely him.

This guy was younger than me, didn't looked gray haired...moved like Jagger. Lol.

Older late 50's. 6', 160#. Buzz cut hair with one spot left and braided down. Black hair, graying. Have only ever seen him wearing black cloths.

Maybe he has a goofy son.

Saturday afternoon there was someone (viper himself?) wearing booties, tight pants, a midriff exposing tee and a japanese style cone hat dancing (badly) to some sort of techno music on the steps. He was very engrossed in whatever he was doing. Did not cross the st to see if it was Viper or not.. just kept walking with the dogs. Strange dude.

for a minute i completely thought you were talking about our favorite gun rights proponent.

+1

Yeah the gun-rights Viper lives in the burbs, his mama lives in Upper Torresdale, and he's got a middle-management IT-goatee.

And you can't miss the belt, since after all... OC.

I have to say he is very likley the culprit. Last time I talked to him he came to the door naked and proceeded to explain to me that his home has an awful flea problem that he attributes to these bins.

btw...how do you get one of these added to your street? I live close to the highschool, Tony's way, and the el stop and people are constantly throwing trash on the sidewalk and street, which will make its way right in front of my house...would love to have a trash can for these kids and people to use instead of my street...

HA! That's what I thought at first.

That's hilarious.