Hi Nick, technically, no one can keep any cans in the alley anytime except for the collection period:

"Place trash and recycling containers out for collection no earlier than 6:30 pm the night before collection and no later than 6 am on your collection day. Residents are required to remove trash and recycling containers from public space by 8 pm on your collection day." http://dpw.dc.gov/node/418382

While this is not a problem for neighbors with backyards at alley level, it is a difficult situation for neighbors without alley access, or for those with many steps to elevated backyards. I hope the City continues to understand and forgive neighbors with these issues.

But we are all responsible to keep the alleys clean, and clear for emergency vehicles, and to report dumping, but also, if a legal bulk trash collection has been scheduled, to place a sign on your bulk trash to indicate a scheduled pick-up.

Yes, I realize it is a problem. That is why I haven't made a big stink about it. However I have lived at my house for 30+ years. Only in the last six years have people started putting trash cans in the alley in this fashion. I probably should have nipped in the bud at that time. I realize that my neighbors are just trying to beautify the fronts of their homes and I completely understand that. I just wish someone else other than me would spend the time cleaning up the alley after the trash is picked up in the organizing the cans. In the summer, rats are a particular problem, where hordes of them run up and down the tops of the trash cans and into other people's yards.

BULK ITEMS: MATTRESSES,SOFA/CHAIR/WOOD MATERIAL,CARDBOARD MATERIAL AT THE RIGHT SIDE OF 3169 18TH ST NW.PLEASE REMOVE