A Los Angeles alley piled with dumped furniture and trash had already become the site of a fire before help arrived. In a neighborhood cleanup post, Juan Naula (@cleanlawithme) said some of the discarded furniture had been set on fire, turning an eyesore into a safety hazard.
Here's what to know
In an Instagram post, Naula said the cleanup began after a neighbor asked for help with an alley packed with discarded furniture and trash. "Six days ago, someone even started a fire in some of the furniture left behind," Naula wrote in the caption.
Naula also said he didn't have to do it all by himself. "Luckily, Kevin from L.A. Sanitation was passing by, so I asked him for help — and he stepped up!"
The video shows Naula picking up numerous items from the alley and tossing them into the back of Kevin's garbage truck.
The post also relayed the neighbor's claim that the city no longer cleans the alleys, though it did not include a city statement.
More background
Dumped furniture in an alley can block access, encourage more trash to pile up, and, as Naula described in this case, become a safety hazard if people set it on fire.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Naula regularly posts block-by-block cleanup work involving neighbors, volunteers, and public workers responding in real time.
"HUGE SHOUTOUT TO KEVIN! Thank you for your help and for being part of the solution. This is what happens when we work together!" the caption said.
For readers who want to back similar efforts where they live, it may help to check out the TCD Guide's page on taking local environmental action.
The caption said, "We can't do it alone. Let's keep L.A. clean, safe, and beautiful!"
Where can I learn more?
These stories touch on many of the same issues, including trash buildup, safety hazards, and neighbors stepping in when help is needed.
• In communities nationwide, firefighters warned that dangerous battery fires in garbage cans can erupt without warning.
• One mom's solo neighborhood cleanup project showed how quickly one person can spark action.
• In Vancouver, residents said removing public trash cans left sidewalks dirtier and frustrations higher.
• In Zimbabwe, scrap collectors became society's cleaning crew while earning income from waste.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
