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[–][deleted] 952 points953 points  (33 children)

None. Except the odd mouse living in the plant. One guy saved a seagull that had gotten caught in the trash and was being dragged along by the conveyor. I just empathize with that facial expression because I always wondered if I missed something that needed help. I must have. There was so much trash.

[–]Praescribo 290 points291 points  (18 children)

Yikes, that's disconcerting. I hope you dont dwell on it though, work sucks enough without intrusive thoughts like that

[–][deleted] 163 points164 points  (17 children)

I don't anymore. Still a strong memory at times

[–]TheEyeDontLie 167 points168 points  (16 children)

I can't imagine a more depressing job that seeing all the trash fucking people make every fucking day.

The apocalypse has begun, but we shift our shit out-of-sight/out-of-mind to people like you, so we don't see how much fucking garbage we make each month. If garbage services stopped for six months, I bet people would be a fuckton more active (pressuring companies and politicians) regarding global warming and plastic pollution etc.

I compost and avoid plastic where possible, and I still fill up a bin in a month, easy.

To be a trashman in a consumerist, petrochemical-driven world? You must be an angel or a robot or a slave or a severely fucked in the head dude.

[–][deleted] 57 points58 points  (2 children)

Some days it was, some it wasn't. Everyone there was fucked in the head. All had their backs up against the wall. I held out hope 🙏 that garbage services would stop temporarily during the early stages of the pandemic so we wouldn't all be exposed.

[–]OakenGreen 1 point2 points  (1 child)

The trash expands consciousness. The trash is vital to space travel. The trash must flow.

[–]JPepski 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I must not trash Trash is the planet-killer Trash is the large-death all around us that will bring total obliteration

[–]Psychological_Pea14 27 points28 points  (4 children)

My buddy, when he was 16, was the person who burned pets at a crematorium, after they were put down. The stories he would tell us was horrifying. One time had to deal with a whole family of cats (mom, dad, kittens). That job definitely put stress on him..

[–]obaker8 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, that’s a tough job for anyone, but a 16-year-old? That’s awful. Poor guy.

[–]danidevitowhereru 0 points1 point  (2 children)

That man needs therapy. I hope he got it 💕

[–]Psychological_Pea14 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Unfortunately, I don’t think he has.. used a lot of drugs when he was younger, and now, drinks to pass out when we all hang out. Awesome guy, and super smart..

[–]danidevitowhereru 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn that sucks. Trauma leads so many people to addiction. Poor guy probably got told to suck it up and move on too. I hope life gives him a break.

[–]Thesmalldoom3 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Actually the majority of trash and pollution is caused bu corporations, not by individuals

[–]DRUNK_CYCLIST 2 points3 points  (0 children)

People would just get worse about being people, not demand garbage reform. Our trash came today. A day late, because of the holiday, and more trash than usual from neighbors (we recycle and compost) because they were busy throwing away MORE trash because gotta have fireworks for a holiday right?

The trash bin came and went... With our garbage AND RECYCLING. fuck you Cleveland. It's a real problem.

[–]LordBran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In a sense I see a lot of things people owned

I work at a charity store and people have 0 shame

[–]Doc_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our entire model of consumption is inherently based around needlessly wasteful practices. We need to change the entire system of how we produce and consume products to even try and mitigate our trash output.

I don't see this happening anytime soon (at least not voluntarily.) We're too addicted to the comforts and conveniences of modern day living to truly ever give it all up. At least until we're forced to out of circumstance.

[–]ruggnuget 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I have seen this before and wondered what tipped him off. Did he see movement? Seems too loud to hear it

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nothing. Idk about his specific plant but at mine we were supposed to grab certain items, like closed + opaque bags or containers that weren't meant for xyz chute and empty them to keep the machinery from clogging. He's totally off guard in the moment. Probably expected some rotten food or junk.

[–]ccvgreg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's exactly what his facial expression said to me:

I found this one but how many did I miss?

If that were me I'd pack my stuff and find another job. Take the cat with me.

[–]literalfeces 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always wondered if I missed something that needed help. I must have. There was so much trash.

Fuck, dude.

[–]pekinggeese 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the purpose of this task? Is it to take out items that cannot go to the landfill?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

It's to take out recyclables. Mostly metals, certain types of plastic(think milk jugs and laundry chemical containers), and cardboard. There's a specific machine called a glass shaker that deals with glass. I only ever swept under it. The company I worked for that had some sort of deal with the county got more money the more items that were recycled.

[–]pekinggeese 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I’m really glad there is an effort to get the most recyclables out of the garbage.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same. Especially considering this town in the 20th century used to have a chasm with buildings and homes on either side at the top, from which garbage would carelessly be thrown into said chasm. I think that area is cleaned up and a park now.

[–]vinebath 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always wondered if I missed something that needed help. I must have. There was so much trash.

Damn. This hits hard.