Replies

1. 
   seeyou | Jun 23, 2009 04:56pm | #1

   Tip them well and they'll take a dead body if that problem ever arises.

   http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

1. 
   JAlden | Jun 23, 2009 05:15pm | #2

   That's been my experience too. Five to twenty bucks when I load him up. Cold bottle of water and help him load.

1. 
   hmj | Jun 24, 2009 02:20pm | #17

   I've handed 'em cold beers at 7:30AM...

1. 
   VinceCarbone | Jun 24, 2009 03:39pm | #18

   I was working in NJ about 10 years ago ( Englewood) and we were doing a large reno,real fancy neighborhood, didn't want a dumpster but didn't want trash build up either.

   So we see a town garbage truck on it's regular route, we run out to the road and stop the two young black kids working it and ask them if we could make a deal to pick up the trash.

   The kid driving says we got to talk to Big Earl,so he gets on the truck radio calls Big Earl, says Big Earl will be here soon and drives away.

   About 10 min later another city garbage truck pulls up and out climes 6'8" 345 lbs shaved headed,biggest black guy I've ever seen,asking for Vinny.

   I was almost afraid to admit it was me,we talk,come to an agreement,he calls the first truck back,they pick up a load,he tells us to put out trash on regular pick up days, he gives me his cell number says any time we have trash not on regular days call him and he'll send a truck right over.

   Of course we only paid Earl but it was the best and cheapest garbage service I ever had.

   We tried to give the kids who came to pick up the trash a few bucks but they always said no,Big Earl took care of them.

   I loved working in NJ.   Vince Carbone

   Riverside Builders

   Franklin,NY

2. 
   JAlden | Jun 24, 2009 03:55pm | #19

   My guy doesn't drink, I've asked.

1. 
   DanH | Jun 24, 2009 05:53pm | #20

   And if you can't trust your garbage man, who can you trust?
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

2. 
   gfretwell | Jun 24, 2009 09:03pm | #21

   I have taken beer and gatorade out to them many times, they always take the gatorade, never the beer.
   I have heard two explanations, one they could be fired, two they think beer will actually dehydrate them. The masons I talk to say the same thing about the dehydration deal.
   Now days I just set a couple Gatorades next to the cans in a plastic bag full of ice shortly before I know they will arrive.
   They always take anything away I set out there. I do try to make the bags light, even if there are lots of them.

3. 
   JAlden | Jun 24, 2009 09:29pm | #22

   Here in Illinois there is also zero tolerance when driving on a CDL. No alcohol what so ever. Cash is easier anyways, my wife always has some.

4. 
   jonblakemore | Jun 25, 2009 12:27am | #23

   Masons refusing beer?I think they just don't like the brand you offered. 

   Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

2. 
   jet | Jun 24, 2009 01:23am | #10

   And you have this on authority from Gunner?????

2. 
   Dreamcatcher | Jun 23, 2009 06:01pm | #3

   Yup, I have found that if you are there on the first trash pick-up of the project and you drop a twenty on them and talk to them a bit you will get great service throughout the project.

   For the most part, I feel, they just appreciate a little respect... don't we all.

   A friend of mine was doing a remodel and put a six pack with a bow on it out to the curb for his garbage guy! Now he's great friends with his garbage man and gets a few dump passes on request. (Note: I don't personally recommend buying your garbage man beer)

   DC

3. 
   natedaw | Jun 23, 2009 09:26pm | #4

   Oh do I ever miss the days of private garbage collection. Now that it's a local municipality responsibility we are allowed 4 bags every two weeks, recyclables every week.

4. 
   DanH | Jun 24, 2009 12:17am | #5

   You haven't seen the bill yet.

   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
5. 
   kate | Jun 24, 2009 12:48am | #6

   Oh, Yes!  I wrote a letter to my local paper in praise of the trash guys, and they loved it - they do a hard, unpleasant job, & are mostly ignored.

   Also, give them a holiday tip! 

   They have saved me thousands in dumpster fees.  Here, it's all in how you package it.  Opaque bags in the roll-out bin...(They gave me an extra one...)

6. 
   VMackey | Jun 24, 2009 12:52am | #7

   It all depends where you live and the particular culture of the union at that time. Ours our fine now, a bit messy but fine. But a couple of years ago, we hag 2 bags left on the curb. I called to ask why they were left and exactly how soon the Super was going to drive out in his pick up and personally pick up the trash. He said the bags were over the weight limit and his men would not lift anything over so many pounds, and if I kept over loading the bags he's fine me.

   I laughed and pointed out I was sick on the night the garbage bags went to the curb and I'd like his men to drive back so my 5' 3" wife could show them how easily she could toss the bags into the truck after she carried them out of the house by herself.

   The Super decided he would come out in his pick up truck and get the 2 bags for us. I work all over, some garbage men are great, some are the laziest city employees going. And we've had a mix of the two. Vic

1. 
   popawheelie | Jun 24, 2009 01:03am | #8

   I like the trucks that can pick up the trash themselves. I watched a guy and one guy with the hydraulic arm was way faster than any manual loading.

   There's no reason in this day and age to have guys manually loading trash.

   I got a notice with my bill about overloading trash cans. They pointed out even the hydraulic arm wasn't supposed to pick up to heavy of cans. Yea, right.

   They just don't want to invest in the equipment.

   What do they want in the can? air? Trash is heavy. Period.

    "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers

1. 
   catfish | Jun 24, 2009 02:16am | #11

   Cut up wood, asbestos shingles, and lead base paint.

2. 
   PatchogPhil | Jun 24, 2009 05:22am | #15

   Not sure if it is indeed done on purpose, but it seems that if a garbage can is towards the heavy side the handle is snapped off (plastic wheeled can).One time I was outside when the garbage truck arrived so I stood by while they dumped it into the truck. The guy that actually grabs the cans and dumps them says to me.... "why you make it so heavy"? I replied, "oh that's too heavy for you? Here let me do that for you". So I dumped the can with one hand, smiling and looking him in the eye.(knock on wood) Haven't had a broken garbage can handle since that day. 

   Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

1. 
   popawheelie | Jun 24, 2009 06:06am | #16

   From what i have heard. At the trash companies that reward their workers for productivity their aren't any older guys that pick up trash cans. Their backs go out and they can be permanently disabled.

   It makes sense that they do because of the shear numbers involved.

   The trash companies need to invest in hydraulic arm machines to do the lifting.

   I saw a guy drive up to my trash can. Grab it and dump it faster than anybody could ever do it by hand. If they did it there any company could do it.

   He never left the truck. And his back was fine for life. Think of the savings in the long run.

   This isn't about lazy guys or fast guys. It's about doing the right thing for the long run.

   The company we have right now is a private co that sends out bs propaganda with every bill. They sent out a memo about heavy trash cans. Give me a break. Trash is heavy. Invest in the right equipment. "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers

7. 
   doodabug | Jun 24, 2009 01:05am | #9

   My wife is handicap and drives a scooter. She sticks her foot out the side of the scooter and shoves those cans right out to the street.

   Our garbage man puts the cans back by the garage for her. Great attitude.

8. 
   cameraman | Jun 24, 2009 02:50am | #12

   Our waste hauler is contracted out and 99% a very good service. I am in a constant remodel and placed a few broken up pieces of drywall to the curb, wasn't picked up.

   So next week I cut them into smaller pieces and bundled them up, still wasn't picked up.

   Well at the time I was mayor of our town and we just renewed the contract and during the sales presentation I asked about dump passes for residents during remodeling, "don't need them, just put it out to the curb"

   In explaining to the customer service person that my drywall wasn't picked up, I get a song & dance why it was my fault.....not wanting to dance to that tune I lost my cool.

   I told her that I just signed the renewal contract last week and I didn't see this tune in the contract!!!! And if you don't believe me, have your boss look it up and check for my name!!

    

   A truck was there within the hour!!

1. 
   clinkard | Jun 24, 2009 02:58am | #13

   in Toronto Ontario, our garbage men/women just went on strike with half the city. Going down to the permit office tommorow, I have a sneaking suspicion they are on strike as well.

9. 
   AitchKay | Jun 24, 2009 05:13am | #14

   It's amazing what a difference it makes if you let people know that they're not invisible to you, and that you appreciate the work that they do.

   We got hydraulic-arm trucks a couple of years ago, to pick up our 200#-limit carts. Now that's cool!

   You can get rid of a LOT of concrete in 6 months with those puppies!

   AitchKay