HOW do you give a Xmas gift to you garbage men?

[Anonymous]

This is our second Xmas here in DC and we give a small gift card to our trash collectors who work so hard. Last year I was able to catch them when thy arrived and by catch them I mean, I ran down the alley, following the trash truck screaming "wait!!" and waving Xmas envelopes in the air. This year I can't be home at the time they usually do trash pick up. If you gift your trash collectors what method do you use? Ours are serious and move quickly. I feel like if there aren't neon lights and a sign pointing to an envelope they'll take it as trash. Help!

[Anonymous]

Um, you don't. This isn't New York. We don't tip sanitation workers here. They make a good living.

[Anonymous]

Was going to suggest taping it to the underside of the trash container or top of the trash bag but think someone might take it if they see it. How about leaving a case of beer on top of the container? Or is beer not PC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was going to suggest taping it to the underside of the trash container or top of the trash bag but think someone might take it if they see it. How about leaving a case of beer on top of the container? Or is beer not PC?

Beer could be swiped by minors, and you would be liable.

I repeat: Do NOT tip sanitation workers. This is a NYC-only phenomenon and we need to keep that madness in check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was going to suggest taping it to the underside of the trash container or top of the trash bag but think someone might take it if they see it. How about leaving a case of beer on top of the container? Or is beer not PC?

Beer could be swiped by minors, and you would be liable.

I repeat: Do NOT tip sanitation workers. This is a NYC-only phenomenon and we need to keep that madness in check.

So you're cheap and the rest of us can't spread holiday cheer because of it? Got it. My garbage collectors have grabbed three kids' worth of stinking diapers. I am going to tip.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and OP I've resorted to doing the same thing you did, although on my street I can hear them coming and I go over to where they pick up the trash. I suppose you could attach an envelope to a stick with the words "thank you" on the front, or maybe mail it to the company with your address and instructions to please give it to the people who cover your address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was going to suggest taping it to the underside of the trash container or top of the trash bag but think someone might take it if they see it. How about leaving a case of beer on top of the container? Or is beer not PC?

Beer could be swiped by minors, and you would be liable.

I repeat: Do NOT tip sanitation workers. This is a NYC-only phenomenon and we need to keep that madness in check.

So you're cheap and the rest of us can't spread holiday cheer because of it? Got it. My garbage collectors have grabbed three kids' worth of stinking diapers. I am going to tip.

How much of a tip and how are you going to do it? Will you be able to catch them when they roll up to your house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was going to suggest taping it to the underside of the trash container or top of the trash bag but think someone might take it if they see it. How about leaving a case of beer on top of the container? Or is beer not PC?

Beer could be swiped by minors, and you would be liable.

I repeat: Do NOT tip sanitation workers. This is a NYC-only phenomenon and we need to keep that madness in check.

So you're cheap and the rest of us can't spread holiday cheer because of it? Got it. My garbage collectors have grabbed three kids' worth of stinking diapers. I am going to tip.

+1. PP, how about YOU not tip your garbage men, and don't worry about the rest of us. And if you think this is a NYC-only phemonenon, you're nuts.

But I admit, I'm a little perplexed aboutu how to go about this. Any envelope left outside will be swiped long before the trash is picked up.

[Anonymous]

When the garbage men went on strike recently, I read the drivers make good money, and the ones who hang off the back of the trucks make less than $20/hr.

I give the three guys on the trucks gift booklets to McDonald's. They love it. Lunch on me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the garbage men went on strike recently, I read the drivers make good money, and the ones who hang off the back of the trucks make less than $20/hr.

I give the three guys on the trucks gift booklets to McDonald's. They love it. Lunch on me!

Excellent idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the garbage men went on strike recently, I read the drivers make good money, and the ones who hang off the back of the trucks make less than $20/hr.

I give the three guys on the trucks gift booklets to McDonald's. They love it. Lunch on me!

Excellent idea.

Me again. How much gift booklets per person do you give?

[Anonymous]

FYI....

The highest average pay for garbage men in Maryland in 2009 was in the Baltimore-Towson metro area, at $17.85 per hour, or $37,130 per year. The average wage for these workers was $13.56 per hour in the Hagerstown-Martinsburg area, $14.42 in the Cumberland area, $15.40 in Salisbury, and $16.56 in the Bethesda-Frederick-Gaithersburg metropolitan region

Here's another quote from the recent negotiated September 2013 strike:

"Currently, trash collection truck drivers for the business make between $120 and $130 a day (before taxes), while those who load trash into the trucks make between $60 and $70 a day, Duarte said."

[Anonymous]

WTF does this? Do you also give gifts to the baggers at Giant? Metro drivers? Street sweepers? Cops? Crossing guard? School security officer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the garbage men went on strike recently, I read the drivers make good money, and the ones who hang off the back of the trucks make less than $20/hr.

I give the three guys on the trucks gift booklets to McDonald's. They love it. Lunch on me!

Excellent idea.

Me again. How much gift booklets per person do you give?

$10 each. I choose McDonald's because they have that $1 menu and can have a substantial lunch.

I'm not rich but appreciate the nasty job they do. I couldn't do it though before I starve, I'd just wash dirty dishes!

http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/services/arch_card.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTF does this? Do you also give gifts to the baggers at Giant? Metro drivers? Street sweepers? Cops? Crossing guard? School security officer?

Yes. And I give a bag of money to a small boy to run and get me a Christmas goose. Because I like to spread cheer and the alternative is sad and dismal.