Neighbor can't stand the location of resident's trash cans, reports him to the HOA, resident claps back by enhancing the smell: 'Let's see how you like that!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 18, 2025 2:00 PM EST

There are only so many issues you can raise with your neighbors before you become the nuisance.

In this instance, we have a resident whose trash cans were fully where they were supposed to be: within his own property and behind his fence. Still, the neighbor insisted that the strange smell they couldn't shake was emanating from the resident's trash cans. 

After a few uncomfortable exchanges between the two adults, the neighbor should have recognized that there was nothing they could do. Not only was the resident in compliance with the rules, but he also believed the smell was coming from somewhere else. Then, one day, the resident accidentally filled their trash cans too much, to the point that they were overflowing ever so slightly. Of course, the neighbor noticed this and decided to use this situation as an excuse to get the resident fined by their local HOA.

That's when the resident knew he needed to take matters into his own hands. He paid the fine and apologized for his one silly mistake. Still, he refused to move the location of his trash cans, partially to spite the neighbor. Then, he decided to start composting and made sure his bin was actually smelly this time… just to get a rise out of the neighbor.

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  • A black bin overflowing with trash outside of a house.
    via the blowup

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The author's behavior yielded a divided response from several members of the online community, some of whom are convinced that his trash cans were the source of this strange smell and that his form of petty revenge only further reinforces that suspicion. What do you all think? Was he justified in his behavior, or did he become the very thing his neighbor accused him of being?

  • "Don't like me keeping my trash cans on the side of my house? Let's see how you like this"

    We got a new neighbor a few months ago. The husband is a nice guy, but the wife appears to have a stick up her ass. Ever since they've moved in, she's
    via TopRamen713
  • complained to us that we keep our trash cans on the side of the house that is adjacent to their place. She says they smell, which impedes on her pleasure of sitting on her front porch.
    via TopRamen713
  • We live in the suburbs so the houses are about 10 feet from each other. Plus, that's the only side of the house I have a gate on.
    via TopRamen713
  • She wanted us to move them inside our garage. No thanks, I have a workshop in there and actually use it. I'm not stinking up my garage.
    via TopRamen713
  • About a month ago, we got a letter from the HOA that our trash can wasn't stored properly. I had put too much trash in it and it didn't close all the way. Two guesses who reported it,
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  • especially since you'd have to get right up to the fence to take the enclosed picture.
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  • On, fair enough. I've been more careful about not overfilling the trash since then. However, what I did do was get a new compost
    via TopRamen713
  • bin. The most convenient place to keep it happens to be adjacent to our common fence... Let's see how you like that smell.
    via TopRamen713
  • Portrait of a woman with dirty blonde hair looking angrily into the camera.
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • CaptainMS99 Honestly, if I was not able to use my front porch due to the smell of your garbage, I would be upset too. (I love sitting on a porch or deck and enjoying this lovely time of year.) But I wouldn't keep it in my garage either. There has to be another solution that contains the smell and be a good neighbor.
    via TopRamen713
  • MartyMailboxXX Then when the neighbor complains about the smell from the compost bin, let her know that you received an "anonymous" complaint about your garbage cans being overfilled and that setting up a compost bin was the agreed upon solution. Let her think about how her own complaints screwed herself over.
    via TopRamen713
  • Heavy Needleworker 707 Why does your garbage stink so bad? I wouldn't like sitting close to stinking garbage either. Are you not rinsing the cans out ever? Just solve the smell problem and don't be a jerk.
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  • Lincoln 1517 A compost bin shouldn't smell bad. If it does, you're doing it wrong.
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  • Dave Dot I can understand your frustration about the complaint, but your lack of empathy for your neighbor who has to tolerate your smelly garbage is mean-spirited. You aren't the hero in this story that you believe yourself to be. How about trying to take real steps to try and be a good neighbor instead.
    via TopRamen713
  • invisibleconstructs How bad does your trash stink? I think that makes a difference in this story. In the summer, I don't put anything in my trash that will really stink until trash day or the night before. In winter, we're cold enough that the smells are minimal. I keep things like old meat or fruit, in a container in my freezer until then. We have a large family, so our can is full most weeks, but it usually doesn't stink.
    via TopRamen713
  • No-Donkey8786 If your compost smells bad, it ain't compost. What you have is a garbage pile. HOA & town can get down on you now.
    via TopRamen713
  • mrredbailey1 I keep my trash cans clean because I don't like a smelly trash can. I know my garbage man appreciates it, too. Nope, I'm. siding with your neighbor on this one. An ounce of prevention on your part would make your life more pleasant, as well as your neighbor's.
    via TopRamen713
  • Ydoihavtofuckinlogin I kind of understand the neighbour. My neighbour one day not long after moving in put all his bins literally right up next to my house under all my windows. Which was his right because of the way the land is. I quickly asked him nicely if he could please put them somewhere else and explained why, I would lose most my windows being able to open coz of the smell. Especially in the summer! He kindly said ok and moved them somewhere else. We had a friendly enough relationship th
    via TopRamen713

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hoa hoa stories neighbors trash neighborhood neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories petty revenge trash can
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