Dumpster Practice August 2009

During construction rehabilitating part of CRLS (Cambridge MA Public High School) in August 2009, a contractor placed an empty dumpster outside of my windows then about 30 minutes later picked it up, and took it away. This happened twice a day for three days. At first I thought it was a practice session for new drivers, or someone just targeting me for harassment. I was able to determine what was going on by speaking with the contractor. The City Department of Traffic which issues permits for dumpsters did not return my calls. The contractor explained that the construction project manager told him where to put the dumpster. He did not reveal if there was a permit.

Trash for Cambridge Wildlife

These images are from 8:00 AM on Monday August 3, 2009. One week earlier July 27, 2009 Harvard Real Estate posted a sign in the building reminding residents that trash should be placed into the dumpster in the rear of 85-95 Prescott Street. Nonetheless it appears there is a failure to communicate as in Cool Hand Luke. In addition the last image shows trash inside the basement of 85 Prescott Street near the exit door. More images of trash for wildlife at

http://enoughroomvideo.blogspot.com/2009/07/outdoor-trash-attracts-rodents-at.html

and this video

http://enoughroomvideo.blogspot.com/2009/06/cambridge-ma-sights.html

DUMPSTER LOADING PRACTICE

Monday July 27, 2009 at about 7:05 AM this truck landed outside of my window and unloaded this huge green dumpster. The truck drove away. While I was wearing ear phones working on audio the driver came back, uploaded the dumpster and took it away. At about 11:15 AM he returned and again unloaded the dumpster. About 30 minutes later he returned and again uploaded it and took it away. He did not return a third time. Here's my question. Was the driver practicing? Was he just doing it to make noise and to annoy me? I was able to take these still photos which do not include the sounds of the uploading which is not very inspiring or danceable. On Tuesday July 28, 2009 at about 7:05 AM the company truck appeared with a dumpster and dropped one again. At about 7:25 AM a truck appeared and took it away. Then at about 1:45 PM another dumpster was dropped. At about 2:05 PM the truck appeared and picked up the dumpster. I called to the Cambridge Department of Public works to inquire what was going on. A DPW employee referred me to the Department of Traffic and Parking, which issues permits for dropping dumpsters. I was unable to get through their voice mail to a real person for the man in charge or his emergency referral person. I left a message for the deputy of the department. I also called to the C. J. Mabardy Company which is in Cambridge. The receptionist asked my name. I did not want to give it for fear of having one of their employees come and beat me up. It is a "removal" as in trash company. I said I would call back which I did. I finally spoke with their point man for directing their dumpster deliveries. He told me that the dumpster was dropped at the location under direction of the construction project manager. He was able to determine that it was from the renovation construction of the high school, one and one half blocks away. I did not say that I knew they needed a permit to drop their dumpsters no less their drawers. I asked how long it was going to continue. He said he did not know, but that it was only for the "initial demolition." That meant that after they knocked down whatever they were knocking down there would be no more dumpster drop-offs under my window. On Wednesday July 29, 2009 there was no drop off at 7 AM as there were on the previous two days. On Friday July 31, 2009 the company dropped off a dumpster at about 7:20 AM and picked it up at about 7:50 AM.