It’s been estimated that the average American will throw away 600 times his or her adult weight in their lifetime. It’s up to waste removal companies to ensure that it is safely and responsibly removed and transported to a proper disposal site. It’s important that you value the job that waste removal companies and their employees perform. Here are a few things that they wish you knew.

The Job Can Be Dangerous

Think about how much you throw away and how heavy it is at a bare minimum. Consider that some of what is thrown away (sometimes improperly) is hazardous. For these reasons, the job of a garbage collector is often considered one of the most dangerous in the United States, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics actually citing it as the fifth most dangerous job in the country. Even if their injuries occur over years, many garbage collectors suffer real consequences due to the jobs they perform.

You Can Make It Safer

The reality is that you can contribute to making the job a bit safer for garbage collectors yourself. Take the time to wrap broken glass (or glass that can break) in newspaper before throwing it away. This can keep it from cutting garbage collectors. Additionally, before you throw away chemicals, you should look up waste removal guidelines regarding that specific chemical. Some chemicals need to be disposed of in special sites to protect garbage collectors, as well as the environment in the long term.

Always Use Bags

There is a reason why waste removal companies recommend trash bags. It’s not enough to just throw your trash away. You need to maintain the physical integrity of your trash cans or dumpsters, especially if you’re utilizing rental dumpsters. They could potentially become not only smelly, but thinner over time if they become affected by loose trash and other waste. The last thing you want is to spend money on an early replacement!

While some of these facts seem simple, many don’t know anything about waste removal. Consider educating yourself more in the future.