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302 Posts
I work in recreational areas, and I have learned in the last few months just how wasteful people are. It blowed my mind to start with.
I have the idea that you don't toss anything unless it's absolutely useless, broke beyond repair, or not fit for use.
I felt that most people thought the same way I did, until recently. I work too hard for my money to throw items of use away without a second thought that I can still use it...or maybe someone else can or I might need it later.
Boy was I wrong....
And in this job, I have to deal with some trash pickup. It's not the most glamorous job in the world and I'm a sweaty mess by the afternoon, but the pay is beyond comparison with any other job in the area...! So, I get dirty and enjoy it, especially the paychecks.
But...these people use items for a weekend and toss them in the dumpster and poof they are done. I've seen tents, chairs, ice chests, lanterns, flash lights, whole bags of clothing, brand new shoes, fishing poles, and sleeping bags go bye bye in a dumpster, all because they are done with them.
Just like today......
We had a little girl ride up to us today on a semi-used bicycle and ask us to get rid of it....because the front tire was flat. I smiled at her and told her, "Baby Girl, someone can fix that for you...all it needs is a tube put in..." In the meantime, Momma come out to the road and hollered nicely back to us that.."It's ok, I'm by myself and can't fix it, so I went and bought her a new bike, so if you don't mind take it with you..." I looked at the lady I was with, and said.."Didn't you say you had some little girls at your house right now?" We loaded it up in the back of her vehicle to take home for her husband to fix to give to one of those little girls.....
Must be nice.....
Anyway...I was against being a dumpster diving diva until I realized the waste involved with these people I have to deal with. Now...we set whatever aside and at the end of the day check it out to see if it's of any use and if it is, who ever wants it...takes it home with them.
And the waste isn't occasional, it's everyday we pick up items left lying on the ground or tossed. And we wonder what's wrong with the world....?
I have the idea that you don't toss anything unless it's absolutely useless, broke beyond repair, or not fit for use.
I felt that most people thought the same way I did, until recently. I work too hard for my money to throw items of use away without a second thought that I can still use it...or maybe someone else can or I might need it later.
Boy was I wrong....
And in this job, I have to deal with some trash pickup. It's not the most glamorous job in the world and I'm a sweaty mess by the afternoon, but the pay is beyond comparison with any other job in the area...! So, I get dirty and enjoy it, especially the paychecks.
But...these people use items for a weekend and toss them in the dumpster and poof they are done. I've seen tents, chairs, ice chests, lanterns, flash lights, whole bags of clothing, brand new shoes, fishing poles, and sleeping bags go bye bye in a dumpster, all because they are done with them.
Just like today......
We had a little girl ride up to us today on a semi-used bicycle and ask us to get rid of it....because the front tire was flat. I smiled at her and told her, "Baby Girl, someone can fix that for you...all it needs is a tube put in..." In the meantime, Momma come out to the road and hollered nicely back to us that.."It's ok, I'm by myself and can't fix it, so I went and bought her a new bike, so if you don't mind take it with you..." I looked at the lady I was with, and said.."Didn't you say you had some little girls at your house right now?" We loaded it up in the back of her vehicle to take home for her husband to fix to give to one of those little girls.....
Must be nice.....
Anyway...I was against being a dumpster diving diva until I realized the waste involved with these people I have to deal with. Now...we set whatever aside and at the end of the day check it out to see if it's of any use and if it is, who ever wants it...takes it home with them.
And the waste isn't occasional, it's everyday we pick up items left lying on the ground or tossed. And we wonder what's wrong with the world....?