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We've
been out on the streets of Gloucester following a team of refuse
collectors on a round as they carry out their duties.
It's
an early start - the team sets off before 7am from the City Council's
depot in Eastern Avenue.
But
for early birds, there's an early finish. A typical day will see
the crew out and about until 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
 You seem to do more reversing than you
do going forward in this job 'cos there are so many cul-de-sacs |
| Mick
Warren |
The
city is split into five zones - one for each day of the week. All
refuse vehicles operate in that one area on a particular day, which
makes it easier for the crews to work as a team and help each other
out.
Unusual
finds
What's
the strangest thing you've ever left out for the bin men?
It's
not just kitchen waste, broken glass, and old cereal packets that
these guys have to deal with. People seem to throw away the oddest
of things.
Because
modern wheelie bins are bigger people tend to use them as skips.
Wardrobes and even whole trees have been known to find their way
in there.
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Dead
squirrel
Dead
animals are another favourite. Among some of the more unusual specimens
that have been found in bins in Gloucester are the remains of a
squirrel and a fox.
Another
weird type of rubbish, according to our friendly gang, is what they
refer to as "bedroom toys". Maybe the batteries have run
out...
Speedy
service
Have
you ever heard the bin lorry coming, remembered you've not yet put
the bin out, and rushed out to do so, only to find you're too late?
These
guys don't hang around. When we were out on a round with them they
managed to visit 20 houses in a particular road in less than five
minutes!
Refuse
collector Mick Warren has been working in Gloucester for several
years.
He
said, "You seem to do more reversing than you do going forward
in this job 'cos there are so many cul-de-sacs...In
the summer it's nice to be out all the time. I wouldn't like to
be stuck in a factory"
Healthy
Being
a bin man is incredibly healthy. On a typical day each refuse collector
could easily walk about ten miles.
In
the summer it's nice to be out all the time ...... I wouldn't
like to be stuck in a factory.
|
| Mick
Warren |
When
you consider he'll do that for five consecutive days then he's doing
the equivalent of around two marathons every week!
So
that's it. A day in the life of a refuse collector.
All
that remains when the round is completed is to head off to the landfill
site to empty the wagon.
And
then they'll be up bright and early to do it all over again tomorrow....
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It's
something we all take for granted - having our wheelie bins emptied
once a week. But have you ever thought about what goes into making
it happen? 
