Page 10 THE BATTALION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1978
CARROLLS BASKETS
AND WICKER
unusual gift ideas
wall decor hammocks
furniture Christmas ornaments
mens gifts adult games
693-7007 Hours:
WOODSTONE CENTER (HWY. 30) io_ 9 Mon.-Sat.
\Greatest Name\
ti-J
SHIPLEY’S
DONUT
SHOP
AFTER STUDYING, STOP
IN FOR SOME FRESH
DONUTS OR A FLAMEBURGER.
Our donuts are made fresh
all day long
Open 6-11 Mon.-Sat. Closed Sunday
3310 S. College 822-4096
TEXAS
MOBILE HOME OUTLET
New '79 Models!
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Texas! Mobile Home Outlet inc
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I
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serving the finest
libations with salads,
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Come by and watch the
Aggie game — Game time 8:00
Happy Hour - 4:30-6:30
$1 BLOODY MARY'S
913 harveyroad
in woodstone center
Trash doesn’t just disappear
By MIKE CARL
Special to the Battalion
“Mixed municipal refuse, type II
may be what the Environmental
Protection Agency call it, but after
spending a day as a College Station
trash collector, I still call it garbage.
SELDOM IN THE PAST have I
questioned the fact that, on the ap
pointed day, my most recent ac
cumulation of empty cans, disposa
ble bottles, potato peelings and last
week’s noodle casserole would mag
ically disappear from the curbside.
Once, my only comment would
have been: “Everyone’s garbage is
out so it must be Tuesday.”
I know now that the estimated 2.5
pounds of garbage per person per
day generated in College Station
finds its way to the dumping
grounds without the aid of a magi
cian.
The day of my debut with the Col
lege Station garbage department
began much like any other Tuesday
morning with the exception of don
ning my oldest pair of blue jeans and
boots — the ones that I wouldn’t
mind parting with. Superintendent
Alfred Miller had told me to meet
him at the “sheds” on Wellborn
Road, north of University Drive.
“Don’t be late,” he warned, “be
cause the trucks roll at eight
SHARP.”
SEVERAL GROUPS of men
were laughing and talking with each
other when I arrvied at the sheds at
7:40 a.m. They glanced at me, an
obvious outsider, then went on with
their conversations. A few nodded
to acknowledge my presence. I
found Miller as he spoke with one of
the city’s mechanics. He was telling
him, “Take the battery out of that
truck over there and put it in
Houlon’s.”
Turning from the mechanic to
me. Miller asked if I was sure about
wanting to try trash collecting. I
“Well then, let me show you the
truck you’ll be working on today,”
Miller replied as he walked off to
ward the truck needing a new bat
tery. “Houlon, this man’s name is
Carl,” he said, “and he thinks he
wants to try his hand at trash collect
ing today.
HOULON YOUNG has worked
for the College Station garbage de
partment for 31 years, beginning
when he was 30 years old. “It’s a lot
better now than when I started,
said Young, a driver for the last 15
years. “We used to collect the trash
and haul it in a trailer pulled by an
old Ford tractor and it was rough.’
Young finally got his truck started
and pulled it up to the gas pump to
top off the tank. While we talked,
two men walked up to us and Young
introduced them. Larry Peterson
and Michael Harris would work
with me on the back of the truck.
Then, with one last check of my
back pocket for my work gloves, we
were off.
The first part of our route took us
to the College Main North area be
hind Northgate. As the truck slowed
and pulled to the curb, I jumped off
the hack and picked up two of three
waiting trash bags. “No,” Peterson
said, “we don’t pick up leaves or
brush — only garbage.” My first
mistake.
THE THIRD BAG was filled
with garbage so I threw it on the
truck while Peterson explained that
another truck picks up leaves, grass
clippings and brush. The reasoning
is that garbage should be picked up
as soon as possible while leaves and
brush can be left uncollected for a
longer period if necessary without
causing health problems.
“Go on!’ The truck started rolling
again and veered to the opposite
side of the street to stop once more.
A whistle, and we were off again; up
one street and down the next. Four
or five stops, then start the compac
tor.
Gears grind and the massive jaws
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Although called “mixed municipal refuse,
type II” by the Environmental Protection
Agency, it’s still garbage. The College Station
Sanitation department picks up an estimated
2.5 pounds of
twice a week —
refuse per person per da; I
and without the aid of a mac f
Battalion photo by Paige Bculr
move together. Above the din, gar
bage hags pop and hiss as they are
crushed along with bottles, cans and
boxes. The entire mass is forced in
side the truck. The jaws re-open
with a mechanical whine and we are
readv to move on.
WHILE MAKING sure to pick
up only the garbage, I thought
about how great plastic hags were.
So far, my gloves had touched only
the smooth, clean, twist-tied con
tainers. Then came a sight all too
familiar in many front yards — hags
ripped open and their contents
strewn about. Free-running dogs
had a field day.
Peterson told me not to worry
about the refuse on the ground. Just
pick up whatever will come with the
bag. He explained, “It’s not our
fault that people let their dogs do
this. ”
Picking up that shredded, drip
ping, stinking bag of someones
else’s garbage was anything hut
pleasant. This scene was to be re
played many more times. My gloves
weren’t clean any more.
YOUNG TURNS the truck up a
gravel driveway and we go behind
the Plasma Products building to
empty the first container of the day.
After the truck hacks up, we un
hinge the heavy lifting arms and try
to lock them onto the container’s
handles. The lifting arms can t he
positioned properly so we have to
reposition the overflowing con
tainer. It is on wheels, but pushing
it on uneven ground is no easy task.
Finally in position, we open the
two lids on the truck side of the con
tainer. Peterson warns me to lift the
lids carefully. They are heavy and
losing your grip could mean losing a
finger as well. The lifting arms are
locked on the container and one of
the lids is latched in position. The
latch is missing on the other lid.
Harris pulls the lever which causes
the container to lift. As the con
tainer rises it begins to tilt and the
trash starts to tumble into the truck.
He pulls back on the lever to stop
the falling trash, then starts the
compactor. The process is repeated
until the container is empty.
street. The other throws theU
into the truck.
Many times, Young doesnlM
have to stop. Shouting, “Movei
Move on, Peterson or Hanisy
out from the truck and grabtkl^j
that are within reach. As tie
swings behind them, aflickofil
wrist sends it behind his badl
into the truck.
1 mastered this technique
after misjudging the weightofa
the hags and ending up ool
pavement as the truck pulled a»|
The truck was full by 11 am
we were off to the city landfills
of town on U.S. Highway 6.
When the rear of the
AS WE PULL hack out on the
street, Peterson tells me there are
only a few more containers to
empty. Then we go across town to
the Post Oak Circle area.
The step bumper on ther rear of
the truck is starting to get slippery
from the drizzle that is starting to
fall and the liquids forced through
the compactor drain hole, so I de
cide to ride across town in the cab.
Also, I was already tired — after
only an hour and a half.
luving
But C
lomesti
THE POST OAK Circle neigh-
borhood did go very fast. The two
men have a system. One will move
ahead of the truck and move all of
the trash hags to one side of the
t KALy
opened and the trash was ford RJu'i!'
I was amazed. I could not bel ^ j
**'*• amount of garbage that it '
men could collect in three Its
Literally tons.
And fi ve t rucks collect all ttie
bage and refuse of every resii
and business in College
twice a week.
WE LEFT THE DUMP ami
turned to the street where w
off. I n two more hours we finii
That last hour I was more
watcher than a worker. 1
exhausted.
By 2 p.m. I was home. I
did n t have any real idea wk|
would he like to make my living
way — after all, I was only agarb )ercent
collector for a day. Had 1 beet j: i i
the payroll, I’d have made $261
lion last
The c
[923 in
(alamai
jercent
ome 4,
Fleet
Her and <
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“ittsbur
omers.
“Privc
MOORE HALL
,12.23
P«
Thoug
nercial
ic at lar
:ntly us<
he do;
You are cordially invited to the Moore Hall Christmas
Party this Sunday night from 8-12 PM at the Elks Lodge.
So take a break from your studies and celebrate be-
cause this is your last chance before “Dead Week”.
Plenty of Food and Dancing along
with Christmas Spirits!!!
= ALL Girls Free!!!
Santa will be there!!!
Illllllllllll
CHRISTMAS PARTY
THIS IS IT
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