“It has gotten out of control recently”

“Dear PoPville,

I am writing to you about the trash situation in the rear of 1118 H St NE (H&Pizza). It has gotten out of control recently with their dumpsters that are located in public space in violation of DCMR Title 24, Chapter 13 of the DC Municipal Regulations, in Section 1380. Section 1830 provides fines for DPW to enforce (which has not been done at this location for the years it has been ongoing, only on a couple occasions has enough interest been shown to cite them but not in recent time, although citing is not a permanent solution). This business is the only one in the area with their trash containers on public property which violates any number of the regs in 1830, trash spilling over,

commingled trash (recycling and trash together and not separated), the area around the dumpsters also violates DCMR 21 DCMR § 702.1 (Failure to maintain the abutting public space & causing a nuisance) among any number of other DPW regs.

The larger issue is that the business keeps their containers in public space (no permit and only business to do so), rats are ever present, trash is everywhere and their business plan should never have been approved in the first place given their lack of a suitable location for trash. Why should other businesses in the area follow the regulations so strictly when they are flaunted and not enforced by DPW for H&Pizza?

Trash has not been picked up in the last four days (this is a busy business and produces a lot of food waste that attracts rats, supposedly a priority for the mayor) and the pile is only continuing to grow. DC has been notified of this particular situation and the numerous other times it has occurred but has not acted to finalize a real solution that would remove the constantly overflowing containers from public property.”