Trash Trucks Are Dumb Schmucks Before 7 a.m.

I received this email during the December holiday:

"This morning at 4:40 a.m., a Waste Management Garbage truck picked up some garbage adjacent to our home. I'm pretty certain that the truck number, violating the law, is 205729, though I generally do not prefer to get up to provide identifying information. Our 11 month old and 3 year old are doing great--but I do feel it's a bit early for them as well."

The process of emptying commercial refuse dumpsters is noisy. It's illegal near District of Columbia residential areas from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. If you're disturbed at night by one of these garbage haulers, call 311 to report it.

For reference, here is the applicable D.C. noise regulation:

2806 TRASH COLLECTION IN AND ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES

2806..1 Noise emanating from trash collection in any residential, special purpose, or waterfront zone shall be prohibited during the hours specified in this section irrespective of its compliance with §2701 of this subtitle. [Nighttime - the hours from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.]

2806.2 No person shall operate or permit the operation of any refuse collection vehicle in or within three hundred feet (300 ft.) of any residential, special purpose, or waterfront zone at nighttime on any day of the week. This prohibition shall not apply to vehicles owned by the District government employed for emptying litter receptacles.

The complete D.C. Municipal Noise Regulations can be downloaded here.