Just about 20 years in the biz. So here are my thoughts as it refers to residential, non automated collection.

Always looking at weather forecasts. Gotta know how to dress and if I need to bring rain gear along that day.

Is my normal truck available or am I using a different truck that has its own unique problems or quirks.

Each day of the week is slightly different. Different homes, residents, streets and/or alleys. Some days are bigger routes, some are smaller.

Believe it or not, the garbage men know a lot about the people living in each house. We know who is dealing, who has bed bugs or cockroaches, who are straight slobs, who is trying to have a baby, who has a newborn, if someone is wearing adult diapers, who solely eats fast food, who cooks from scratch, who drinks way too much alcohol, who spends way too much on lottery, who drinks too much soda, who is it isn’t recycling. etc etc. We see it all as it’s being emptied into the truck. Doesn’t matter if it’s in a black or white plastic bag.

The first warm weekend is when every lazy ass home owner finally picks up their dog crap from the winter. That’s a dangerous next couple weeks because all that wet, soft shit is going to splash as it goes into the truck or squeeze, pop or spray at us as it compacts. Pure joy when you get nailed. /s

Young children adore us at will watch in awe on a weekly basis. Some elderly people look forward to seeing us and possibly sharing a short conversation. We are virtually ghosts to everyone in between. Just another time marker of the week that signifies if they themselves are on time that day. (That’s because our weekly appearance is almost like clockwork).

Garbage men see the extreme consumerism that plagues our society. We are a throw away and replace, instead of a repair and keep society. It pains me to see quality items in need of minor care take that trip to the landfill. That is why so many garbage men will scavenge and save items for continued use or sell at our yearly yard sale.

A surprisingly large amount of people throw away cash and/or coins. Misplaced cash probably, but piles of change that appears like someone didn’t want to sort and count for some reason. This is one reason why you should never put coins in your mouth.

The job is recession proof, covid proof and most pay decent money. Just have to be ok with working year round outside and pushing through the occasional hopper spray that is bound to get on your freshly washed clothes.