Homeowner outraged by neighbor's repeated shocking acts: 'That's frankly disgusting and lazy'

One Redditor's frustration has struck a nerve online after sharing what they said is a long-standing issue with a careless neighbor. 

In a Reddit post on the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, the Redditor posted a photo showing a pile of cigarette butts in their hand — allegedly tossed from the yard of a next-door neighbor.

"My neighbor always throws cigs in my yard," the post read, with a photo showing the offending litter. "Every week I pick up cigs in my yard and throw it back into their yard."

While it might seem like nothing more than a mere annoyance, getting rid of cigarettes improperly can pose serious environmental concerns. Cigarette filters are made from a type of microplastic that can take over a decade to decompose.

They also leach harmful chemicals into soil and water, affecting not just humans but wildlife and pets as well.

For homeowners trying to maintain sustainable lawns or native plant gardens, litter like this can make it harder to model climate-friendly practices. Conflicts with neighbors can be a barrier to broader community participation in green home initiatives.

This kind of behavior, while frustrating on a personal level, also signals a larger issue: When some individuals refuse to take responsibility for their waste, it disrupts efforts toward building cleaner, healthier neighborhoods.

Fortunately, uses for this common litter have been developed, including one company that is using cigarette butts to filter metal from waterways.

"This isn't mildly infuriating, this is just enraging," one commenter said. 

"It's been like this for years. I just recently started throwing them back. Only reason I'm pissed is because I told them so many times. It's a care home facility," the user responded.

What's the worst thing about taking care of your yard? The time it takes ⏰ How noisy it is 🙉 It's too expensive 💸 I don't have a yard 🤷 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

"That's frankly disgusting and lazy of them," another said. "If they already had the coffee cans, put some sand in them and use them as ashtrays."

If nothing else, the story is a reminder that cleaner communities start with individual responsibility — and a little courtesy goes a long way.

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