We’re all eager for spring. But it’s a problem when the snow melts. It releases humanity’s grimy bits and unsavory debris, so the sidewalks and streets are littered. It exposes the trash that has laminated itself to the pavement. The whole thing is revolting.

It gets better in April when the mechanical street cleaners return to their work. Later, whole neighborhoods will stage clean-ups of alleys, streets and sidewalks. Those efforts get rid of even more of the offal.

But still, our tolerance of winter’s leavings is discouraging. It’s especially embarrassing when you compare our behavior to that of the Egyptians. After they left Tahrir Square, they came back to clean it up. It appears that Egyptians care more about their community than Bostonians.

But we too can have our protests. We can become vigilantes. We can sweetly go after those among us who make this place a pit. Here’s the list:

Dog owners who do not pick up or who don’t take home their dog’s little packages to dispose of them. No one wants to pick up after another person’s dog even if the stuff is encased in the plastic that newspapers come in. Other dog owners have been the most effective at getting inconsiderate dog owners to behave. One way to improve this situation would be to ensure there are trash containers along every street and in the parks that attract dogs. If there were places to put the bags, people might actually use them. Since that’s not going to happen soon, if you see a dog owner behaving in this un-neighborly fashion, point out the problem to him or her. You may get push-back, but scofflaws will remember the encounter the next time they think of throwing the package on the sidewalk. They don’t want hassle from their neighbors any more than we want to hassle them.

Trash scofflaws. Every neighborhood has its designated days when those reliable trucks trundle up and down the streets with their guys throwing bags— pretty accurately—into the truck’s maw. So it’s not they who make the mess. It’s those who put their trash in breakable bags, those who put out the trash too early or too late, those who don’t bother with a bag at all. If you see neighbors breaking the trash rules, let them know the rules so they can follow them. Harass the building owner if the tenants won’t behave. Call the mayor’s 24-hour hot line at 617-635-4500 or Code Enforcement at 617-635-4896 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m.) to enlist their help. Building owners can now be fined. It’s a lovely step toward cleaner neighborhoods.

Drivers who don’t move their cars for street cleaning. Thank heavens when street cleaning returns, cars will be towed. It’s the most effective step taken toward improving the city’s cleanliness in 50 years.

But the time it takes to tow a car is time the street cleaner, idling at the corner, could put to better use. It is amazing that drivers, after five years of towing in the downtown neighborhoods, haven’t learned they’ll be towed if their car obstructs the street cleaner. Many years ago the Beacon Hill Civic Association handed out printed signs for residents to place under windshield wipers. They said, “Because your car was parked here today, our street could not be cleaned.” Aren’t guilt trips great?

Street smokers. Who cares if people smoke? But it’s unpleasant to look at cigarettes butts. In some places—especially around cafes, bars and college and university buildings—all the spaces between bricks are filled with little round white butts. Even in neighborhoods with concrete sidewalks, the stuff lies in the expansion cracks. Once in a while a building owner or a bar manager addresses the problem by putting out a sand bucket for smokers’ leavings. Next time you see a smoker throw a butt on the ground, ask him to find a better place for his throw-aways.

Landlords who allow their buildings to become slums. Bad landlords exist all over downtown Boston. They’ve had their buildings for years and put little money into them. We hoped abolishing rent control would motivate landlords to do a better job. It didn’t. So identify the landlord by going on to www.cityofboston.gov/assessing/search/. Write him or her a letter describing problems with the building. Send a copy to your neighborhood association and to inspectional services.

Building owners and shopkeepers who don’t sweep. It takes such a short time, but so few people do it. It’s like snow. If it’s in front of your building, remove it. Keep it clean.

People who accost the above scofflaws in a rude manner. Some people who behave badly in our neighborhoods are jerks who care about no one but themselves. But some are actually nice people who can be persuaded to behave better, especially if they think someone is looking. Try being pleasant first. Sometimes that works.

Remembering Egypt again, we could think we’re lucky to have only trash to complain about. Most neighbors behave themselves.. Most follow the rules that make downtown living enjoyable. But a little peer pressure usually helps most people to be better neighbors.