COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. -- A Colonial Heights family contacted the CBS 6 Problem Solvers for help after a company emptied the contents of a dumpster at their neighbor's house.
Linwood Ozmore said a large dumpster has been parked in between he and his neighbor's home for months while that home was being renovated.
Ozmore said he was overjoyed when a truck pulled up Wednesday to haul the container away. But his joy turned to outrage when he saw the contents dumped into the neighbor's yard and spilling onto his property.
The contents of the dumpster.
"I ran out and told him, 'Hey, you're losing your load there," said Ozmore, who was stunned at the driver's response.
"He said, 'Yea I know. We came after our dumpster because they owed us money. They ain't paid the bill,'" Ozmore said.
Robyn Moody, who also lives next door, thought what happened was crazy.
Linwood Ozmore
"I think if the owner hasn't paid the bill, they should have just contacted him," Moody said.
After the truck drove away with the dumpster, Ozmore called the police and then headed down to city hall.
Within 24 hours a "Notice of Violation" had been posted at the house under renovation and a certified letter was sent to the homeowner, giving them 10 days from receipt of the notice to clean up the construction debris.
Scott Davis, Colonial Heights Director of Planning and Community Development, said he called the owner of the home under renovation over the circumstances surrounding the dumping. By the next morning, he said the debris had been cleaned up.
The dumpster in winter.
"I think the owner took responsibility in a quick time frame to remedy the issue," Davis said.
The company that owns the dumpster said the person who rented the dumpster is more than 150 days past due on the $299 bill.
The owner of the home said a contractor was supposed to pay the bill.
As for the dumping, officials said the contract states that if the renter defaults on the terms, the dumpster can be seized by the company and the contents will be left on the property.
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