Trash talk

My new job is what every little boy dreams of growing up and getting. Recently I got to spend the day as a passenger in an automated side loading refuse truck. This is the truck with the hydraulic arm the reaches out and grabs the trash can in front of a house, hoists it up and dumps it in the bin and then places it back in position on the street. The term automated is a bit misleading because the driver actually controls the arm via a keypad. The driver works like a concert pianist, playing the keypad to efficiently move the arm in and out, up and down. I gained a new appreciation for the work that they guys do. Like in any profession, the old timers have a rhythm to their work that can get them through the day in a third less time than a rookie.

I got to go to the dump twice with the driver which was another interesting experience as the stuff was dumped and immediately flattened by a huge dozer. The amount of stuff we throw away is staggering. We truly are a rich society.

Something I did learn on this trip; do your trash man a favor and don't put out cans that are empty or only a third full. He has to spend as much time dumping an empty can as a full one and each can adds a minute to his route. Believe me, you don't want an unhappy trash man picking up your trash!

Next; the police car ride along!