I have an AWESOME trash man!

[Jdeere562]

We moved here in 1984. Son was starting at Iowa School for the Deaf. Bought a small 3 bedroom house. Here we hire and pay for our own trash service.
About 4 of them to choose from. Asked neighbors and they helped me decide.

After hiring him, I understand why he was their choice. My trash day is Wednesday. Set out the trash Tuesday at night. He picks it up about 1 every morning, while the rest are all sleeping

And by every day, I mean every day of the year. If Christmas, New Years
ew Years, 4th of July happens to fall on that day, so be it. Trash is gone..
Proved his dedication last week again.

Our street had been torn up the last month or so, due to a new sewer main. They have it blocked off, ready to lay new asphalt. It was blocked again last week. He just moved a barricade and got the trash like normal!

He is only a small company and is no longer accepting new customers. His Father owned it when we moved here, now the Son runs the show.
I remember him well at Christmas time every year.

 

[BrianF]

Healthy respect for people who work hard and do a great job.

 

[GMBoy]

Meanwhile my trash company misses a day every month....good job by him!

 

[Wrenchturner44]

Glad to hear that you like your service. Some of these smaller independents do quite well this day in age. Even though dump tipping fees have increased a lot over the years, many of these companies make good profits, as they should from my POV.

 

[Pterostylis]

Sounds like a good bloke. Do you leave him a present at Christmas?
When I was a kid we would wrap a 6 pack of beer or other item in a plastic bag and put a note on it saying “for the garbo, Merry Christmas” and leave it on the bin lid.
I guess these days some scumbag would steal it.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Check out the traditional blues song recorded by Roscoe Holland, Bob Margolin and many others: "Stick out your can" here comes the garbage man.

 

[Neniod]

Love the story about your reliable trash service! Impressive dedication, especially with the barricade move last week. Family-run businesses like that are the best!

 

[AZjeff]

Our refuse collection guy is great too. Always a smile and a word if I'm in the garage when he comes by and will load extra if I have it. I see him stop 4 houses up the street and run the arm up and down and toot the horn for a little guy who waits for him, and he doesn't even get their trash!

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

Before they swapped to the automated system, we had great collectors. Normally 3 to a truck, I made sure they were appropriately tipped at Christmas.
One day one of the crew came to the house with a slip of paper with a licence number on it. They saw a car sideswipe my parked truck and drive off, go a few blocks, then come back, pass my truck again, and (I guess) return to his house. They all stayed to make a statement to the motor officer sent to take the hit and run report.
Great guys and I was sorry to see crews cut down to a driver only.

 

[facility1]

at Christmas time, wait/meet him out by curb when pick up time is and give him a pair of good pig skin or leather work gloves.

 

[skyactiv]

No offense guys, but who here wants to hear a trash truck at 1 AM?

 

[Opelman]

We have a trash lady. No complaints from me because...

 

[ATex7239]

We are locked into the community waste management system. No option other than taking it to the dump yourself. They do a good job but they’re only doing the bare minimum. If you don’t follow the rules to the letter they will skip you. And the guy on the back of the truck always leaves my can in front of my neighbor’s house cause I’m on the corner and it’s closer for him. I don’t complain and just cut him some slack. I figure he takes a 100K steps a day. Dude seems nice and always waves. Just trying to feed his family and not kill himself. No reason to be a Karen about it.

 

[paulo57509]

The guy who picked up the trash at my Mom's house would sometimes help her take the heavy stuff out to the curb. It helped that he was a classmate of mine and lived across the street.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Our trash man is fantastic. I leave him a Gatorade on the trash can every pick up, and a nice Christmas tip.

 

[opus1]

No offense guys, but who here wants to hear a trash truck at 1 AM?

The townhouse I owned backed up to a bank. Banks are quiet, right?

Except that at 3AM on Wednesday, the trash truck would come to empty the dumpster. Every Wednesday at 3AM. And you'd be amazed at how many people use the drive-up ATM in the early hours of the day.

 

[Jdeere562]

You get used to it and it becomes normal.

Worked with a guy in the city. He was used to sirens, trains and aircraft all hours of the day.

Bought a place in the country here, and could NOT sleep, because it was TOO quiet!

Guess folks living by train tracks get used to them and sleep well.

 

[riff1006]

I went to high school right across from ISD. I think it's the JR high now. Our trash is in 2 stages, trash and recycling. The trash guy never misses thankfully, but the recycling guy is hit or miss. We call the city to try to get them to pick it up, and they promise to send them out the next day but it's usually the next week when he gets there. The payment gets lumped in with water and sewer.

EDIT-I didn't realize this was kind of a zombie thread....

 

[shortyb]

Guess I've become the trash man lately to fill some time and feel useful. Our city picks up regular garbage, but stopped recycle pick-up a few year ago. There is a private company that does it now, but is very expensive. There are community recycle drop-offs at the nearby park, so I have always taken my recyclables there. A few neighbors had seen me loading up my car and asked if I had a little extra room. Guess what I do now? I "service" about a dozen folks with recycling and all are very appreciative and respectful. They rinse cans and make sure nothing is messy. Sometimes there is a lot of cardboard and I make a couple trips. It's gotten so structured that I send a group text out when I will pick-up recycling. You won't believe the number of Starbucks/Target/Walmart/Gas gift cards I get. And beer . Not a bad gig.

 

[Jdeere562]

I went to high school right across from ISD.

Must be a Lewis Central Graduate!