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This is the first I've heard of tipping trash collectors. Apparently it's a thing? How, logistically, does one even accomplish that?
by colanderman 5y ago
This is the first I've heard of tipping trash collectors. Apparently it's a thing? How, logistically, does one even accomplish that?
- h2odragon 5y agoTape an envelope prominently to the top of your trash cans; or go out and catch them for a face to face chat.
- mkoryak 5y agoWhat is a good tip amount? If they make decent money, would they be offended by a low tip?
- ChrisMarshallNY 5y agoOur collectors are a team of two: a driver, and a helper. The driver also usually gets out and grabs cans. I will wait to start my walk until they get to my house, and hand them an envelope with two $50 bills.
- colanderman 5y agoI live in a relatively safe neighborhood and have no confidence $20 left taped to a trash can on the curb would survive the night. I guess one could tape it inside the lid? Even that wouldn't survive the night in grittier neighborhoods.
- h2odragon 5y agoMy wife said much the same thing; and we're so rural no one actually drives past our trash cans but us. We put ours out a couple hours before they come by; can't leave trash by the road overnight cuz the coyotes will scatter it all over. Civil society vanished quick, apparently. I once knew the kind of people who would steal cars or anything else because they could; and those people would've found the notion of stealing tips low.
- colanderman 5y agoTo be fair, I haven't experimented with leaving clearly marked cash on the sidewalk to discern whether the local thieves' code condones tip-stealing or not. (This is a Boston suburb innervated by public transit, so there's plenty of foot traffic.)
- thinkingemote 5y agoIn the UK traditionally we would tip at Christmas. We would put an envelope with cash on top of the can, or better to catch the bin men in the act. This was when they used to come onto your property with your own bins, so you saw them more. Now you have to use provided bins and leave them by the kerb so they probably get less.
- lapetitejort 5y agoMost likely by tying a bag with an envelope inside to the handle of the trash can. Or you can just run up to them if they come by at a reasonable time. People also tip postal workers, paper boys, milkmen (which still existed in my youth at least), generally anyone who takes or leaves anything at the house.
- jcims 5y agoI had a fridge of meat go bad. Triple bagged it then tipped them $60 (maximal divvy potential) for dealing with it. Just tape an envelope to the can with a little note, they'll figure it out.
- brundolf 5y agoMaybe this is an American thing, but the trucks in my neighborhood have a big mechanical arm that grabs the trash can and dumps it. The guys only get manually involved if there's extra, or a loose bag, or something else unusual. I'm worried they wouldn't notice an envelope taped to the top under normal conditions
- jcims 5y agoI think it’s setting as well. I’m in a rural (US) location and they generally have to drag the can/tote to the truck and then can use a lift from there if they need to. They left me a thank you note at least so i had some confirmation.
- Server6 5y agoFor sure. I'd tip them if I saw them.
- rootusrootus 5y agoI expect that varies greatly based on location. I don't routinely tip, but we do give a gift card at Christmas. Since our garbage guys never get out of the truck, the only way to give it to them is to run out there when I hear the truck and hand it to them directly.