General Discussion

orangecrush

(22,151 posts) Thu Oct 31, 2024, 08:07 AM Oct 31

254

Former garbage man here [View all]

I did the job for a year.

It is hard physical labor, long hours, exposure to the elements, and sometimes dangerous.

The smell.

Hanging on to the back of the truck for dear life, as the driver speeds down bumpy back roads, trying to get the route done on time.

With a pool of liquid garbage juice sloshing in the trough in front of you in the 90 degree heat, an inch thick layer of maggots on top.

The smell is in your mind, it stays with you even after two showers.

But garbage bags aren't that heavy!

After you've done 400 homes worth they are.

And if someone calls off, you get overtime - make that 800 homes.

4 a.m. till 7 p.m..

Seeing Trump in a garbage truck is an insult to these essential workers.

Side note - Seeing firsthand how much waste humans create and put into the earth was a cold slap in the face.

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78 replies

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Highlight:

Former garbage man here [View all] orangecrush Oct 31 OP

Honestly, anyone almost 80 years old can't do it. trump is just reminding us of that fact. mucifer Oct 31 #1

He could barely climb into the truck! Wednesdays Oct 31 #6

Most people his age would probably need a step stool to get in or they would struggle like he did IMO mucifer Oct 31 #7

He made a big deal about it during his speech Wednesdays Oct 31 #17

It wasn't fun for me orangecrush Oct 31 #8

Yeah Farmer-Rick Oct 31 #9

It's an insult orangecrush Oct 31 #16

And that's the real take-away from his pathetic stunt! llmart Oct 31 #19

And to drunks. nt eppur_se_muova Nov 1 #67

Yeah ailsagirl Oct 31 #58

Among all the negative things TFG is, a fraud and a weirdo are things to add to the list. efhmc Oct 31 #2

Voting in person orangecrush Oct 31 #4

He belongs IN the garbage truck with the rest of the rotting garbage Wicked Blue Oct 31 #3

I've seen bags full of shitted Pampers orangecrush Oct 31 #5

have you smelled him? Groundhawg Oct 31 #46

I'm going orangecrush Oct 31 #47

Good one 3auld6phart Oct 31 #63

I've long said that we owe our society to the people that collect the garbage. Gore1FL Oct 31 #10

Sanitation workers orangecrush Oct 31 #13

Oh yes. llmart Oct 31 #22

I rode the trucks orangecrush Oct 31 #39

I agree! They deserve Blue_Roses Nov 1 #70

So, is it normal to wear a tie??? Farmer-Rick Oct 31 #11

... orangecrush Oct 31 #14

It's also not normal to give a rally speech wearing a sanitation worker's safety vest Ocelot II Oct 31 #27

A real shame that tie didn't get caught in the hopper. Now THAT would have been a photo-op !! nt eppur_se_muova Nov 1 #68

Basurero Kid Berwyn Oct 31 #12

I will be taking trash out again orangecrush Oct 31 #15

My parents told us the same thing! Blue_Roses Nov 1 #71

Thank you for bringing it home for most of us FakeNoose Oct 31 #18

Garbage collectors and sanitation workers are THE HEROES of civilization! raging moderate Oct 31 #20

It is a side of life orangecrush Oct 31 #26

I always tip them nicely orangecrush Oct 31 #25

OK that begs a question FakeNoose Oct 31 #31

On our route orangecrush Oct 31 #35

May your username, orangecrush, be accurate! Bumbles Oct 31 #21

His brain orangecrush Oct 31 #23

And composted. Though I wouldn't use it in my gardens. Too toxic. Bumbles Oct 31 #49

MY dad worked for the NYC dept of sanitation for 27 years. Javaman Oct 31 #24

Had my share of stories orangecrush Oct 31 #29

Great OP right here. Thank you. K&R. LuckyCharms Oct 31 #28

Most welcome orangecrush Oct 31 #30

Thank you, and every single person who does, or has done, that incredibly niyad Oct 31 #32

Thanks, and you can imagine orangecrush Oct 31 #38

I wish I could rec twice Emrys Oct 31 #33

That song orangecrush Oct 31 #36

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.....I live by that that motto Clouds Passing Oct 31 #34

Respect is the greatest form of sincere thanks orangecrush Oct 31 #37

If I have more than usual out I tip. Arne Oct 31 #40

Agree orangecrush Oct 31 #43

The irony here is. . . DinahMoeHum Oct 31 #41

Different companies orangecrush Oct 31 #44

... Kali Oct 31 #42

Always orangecrush Oct 31 #45

LOL Kali Oct 31 #51

you would have liked me, orangecrush NJCher Oct 31 #48

A perfect customer orangecrush Oct 31 #50

I used to watch garbage collectors wryter2000 Oct 31 #52

Not here orangecrush Oct 31 #53

thank you for your service! LymphocyteLover Oct 31 #59

thank you for your service! LymphocyteLover Oct 31 #60

thank you for your service! LymphocyteLover Oct 31 #61

thank you for your service! LymphocyteLover Oct 31 #62

This message was self-deleted by its author orangecrush Oct 31 #54

It's a hard job alright, but certainly one of THE ABSOLUTE MOST ESSENTIAL jobs there is. calimary Oct 31 #64

Trump climbed into the wrong end of that garbage truck. tclambert Oct 31 #65

Got that right orangecrush Nov 1 #73

We were down in Kentucky at a landfill askyagerz Nov 1 #66

Unforgettable orangecrush Nov 1 #75

great respect for the garbage collectors Skittles Nov 1 #69

Agree completely orangecrush Nov 1 #76

Around Here, It's Different Than It Used To Be ProfessorGAC Nov 1 #72

If one wants to understand the future of humanity, including opportunity... NNadir Nov 1 #74

It is another aspect of our ongoing ecological crisis that is underreported jfz9580m Nov 1 #77

Thanks orangecrush Nov 1 #78