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. 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?
