Why do we need trash cans?

The following is my email to the Boston Public Works Department:

Hello,

Last Saturday (August 11), I was working in front of a restaurant near the corner of Newbury and Dartmouth Streets.

I noticed a pickup truck from the Public Works Department making its way down the street emptying trash cans. When the truck stopped in front of our restaurant, the Public Works employee who emptied the trash can managed to spill a decent amount of the trash on the ground. He went to the truck to drop off the full bag, and I expected him to come back and clean up the trash spilled on the ground. That, however, did not occur. He climbed back into the truck and drove further down the street. I yelled that they had left trash on the ground but I assume they did not hear me and kept driving.

This is completely unacceptable for several reasons.

Trash should not be left outside of a restaurant with outdoor seating. The entire incident and the remnant trash were in plain view of patrons eating meals. The fact that he spilled the trash is not an issue at all. But leaving it on the ground is intolerable in view of a restaurant and on a sidewalk for pedestrians to enjoy.

Further, it's hard to fathom that this employee forgot about the spill. Within 30 seconds, he was in the truck and driving away. Could he have forgotten so quickly?

As a concerned citizen, journalist and restaurant industry employee, there is absolutely no way I can tolerate that kind of behavior. I hope this incident only represents a small portion of Public Works employees. Such reckless disregard for public space on a taxpayer funded payroll is unacceptable.

I managed to get the license plate as the truck drove away. The number was MP1109.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I know this might be just a relatively minor incident to the department, but I feel every little bit helps the city of Boston.

Regards,

Boston Commoner

This email was better thought-out than executed but that incident bothered me all week. I had to write that email and get it in soon. Still awaiting a reply (I just sent it a minute ago).

Also, I omitted the line, "If all Public Works employees acted with such reckless disregard the city of Boston would not need trash cans or people on a the public payroll to empty them. Citizens could just lay their trash down themselves." It sounds cool but its an argumentative fallacy because 1) it assumes and 2) it exaggerates.

Sigh. If only I could have been that forceful, yet incorrect.