Who should take out the trash when it's full?
Both at fault
The short answer
Without a schedule, whoever adds to a full bin takes it out. Pressing the trash down to make room counts as adding to it.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-00307
The roommate who took it out last time v. The roommate who keeps pushing it down
Filed 10/05/2026
- Plaintiff
- The roommate who took it out last time
- Defendant
- The roommate who keeps pushing it down
Statement of claim
The trash has been full since Tuesday. My roommate keeps pushing it down with a cereal box so more fits. I refuse to take it out because I did it last time.
Charge
Compression of household waste beyond the capacity of the bin, by both parties, over four days
Judgment
Both at fault
Both roommates found at fault for the trash that has been full since Tuesday
Sentence
The plaintiff takes the trash out tonight. A rotation will be written on the fridge, and the defendant takes the next two turns.
How the court usually rules on this
Trash disputes rarely have one guilty party. The court usually finds both roommates at fault when the bin has been full for more than a day, because each kept adding to it. A written rotation on the fridge is the most common sentence, since it removes the question entirely.
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