Garbage Collector
Most of us wash our hands of garbage as soon as we set it on the
curb. If we can avoid the chore of taking the trash out, we toss our
rubbish in the trash can and forget about it. Not so for the garbage
collector.
If you've ever noticed an overflowing trashcan on a
public street, you may have taken a moment to feel bad for the person
who'll have to clean it all up. In the pinnacle of dirty jobs, garbage
collectors have to deal hands-on with our trash, day in and day out. In
this thankless job, they make sure it gets from our curbs to the
landfill. Sanitation workers often put in long shifts, traveling up and
down our streets to pick up trash while dodging impatient drivers -- who
occasionally hit the guys who are emptying trash cans. That's one
reason why trash collecting consistently ranks high on lists of
dangerous jobs.
Aside from angry drivers, these guys deal with forces of nature as well -- working in rain, snow and sleet. And let's not forget the smell.
The reek of dirty diapers and rotting eggs can't be pleasant,
especially combined with -- and particularly after -- stewing in the sun
on a hot day. Even if sanitation engineers eventually get used to the
smell, it probably doesn't make them popular after working a long shift.
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