Dumpsters

OK, I don't think I have written about this on my blog yet. Which is amazing, because sometimes I feel like it is RUINING my life!

I moved downtown about five weeks ago, and love love love living down here. It's a whole new world for me, within the same city I have always lived in. How great was it yesterday to walk out my door and into Browns party world?! I love my actual apartment too. As it turns out, I should have slept here for a night before I signed my lease...

I live behind the bars of W. 6th, which is easily the most popular area of downtown Cleveland to go out in. I am a night owl, so the noise from the bars never gets to me. They are really only super busy on the weekends, and I am usually out anyway. However, come Monday thru Friday, all of the dumpsters filled up with thousands of beer bottles start being emptied. And this is not a city thing- they are privately contracted waste management companies that the bars rent dumpsters from, and pay to have them come empty them. There are about four different companies with dumpsters around my building.

I totally understand that garbage needs to be taken care of, BUT, one little particular company called Allied Waste Management has taken the liberty of emptying their dumpsters before the sun comes up. Right under my window. I mean, as early as 4:45am. It is so loud, you have no idea. Some days I want to cry, others I laugh. Then by the time I fall back to sleep, the construction in my building starts, usually around 7am. This is all way beyond ear plugs, by the way.

Without going on for too long about this, I just can't take it anymore! I start every day ticked off. I have tried calling Allied, and of course leave messages and do not get calls back. Well today was the last straw. I called the Cleveland Police at 5:00am to file a noise complaint. They were super nice and even called me back later in the day to give me the correct number for a department at City Hall where they issue permits to these companies. Turns out you are not allowed to empty dumpsters until 6:30am. Still early, but not as bad.

My new friend Casandra at City Hall is sending Allied a warning letter, and I am supposed to follow up with them next week. I either have to find a way to make this better, or go insane! If you see Channel 3 News Investigates hiding in the corners of W. 6th before the sun comes up, you'll know who called them. And I'm not kidding. :)