Neighborhood appreciates Waste Management drivers
Keith Cousins | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 4 months AGO
<p>Waste Management garbage truck driver Micah Young receives a hug on Friday from Judy Vaxter, left, and Patty Humpherys, people he has been picking up garbage for more than two years, as Young makes one of his last route stops on Anne Street in Coeur d'Alene. "He's going to be missed," Vaxter says. "He's one of the best."</p>
<p>As a Waste Management garbage truck driven by Micah Young picks up garbage, trash cans adorned with signs of appreciation for Waste Management truck drivers line Anne Street in Coeur d'Alene on Friday. WM lost its garbage contract with the City of Coeur d'Alene this year, meaning some WM employees may lose their jobs. "[The signs are] moving," Young says. "It shows what the city thinks not just of me, but of all of us [drivers]."</p>
<p>A garbage can with a sign reading, "Thanks Drivers" is picked up by a Waste Management garbage truck on Friday on Anne Street in Coeur d'Alene.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — Micah Young said he had to pause and collect himself Friday morning as he turned onto South Anne Street.
Young, an employee with Waste Management, has been collecting trash every Friday in the small Coeur d'Alene neighborhood for years, regardless of the weather. During the rainy, early-morning hours prior to Young's final trip up the street, residents of the neighborhood worked together to show Young how much he will be missed.
A cardboard sign, with hand-painted messages of thanks, was attached to each of the 29 garbage cans lining South Anne Street:
"Thank You!"
"Thanks"
"You're the best!"
"Thanks Drivers"
And so on.
"It felt good, we were really pleased to do something to let the guys know that they're appreciated," said Loren Mitchell, a longtime resident who helped put together the messages of gratitude. "It's kind of a difficult job, smelly at times, but they keep doing it. I think it's important to tell people doing these hard tasks that they're doing a good job."
Although operating a garbage truck is a seemingly thankless job, Young said "You'd be surprised" at how many people make the effort to let them know how grateful they are for the service. As Waste Management's contract with the city expires, it was clear the neighborhood's grand gesture of gratitude had a profound impact on Young.
"It's a hard thing to deal with, knowing I'm coming up on my last days here," he said. "But this is moving. It just kind of shows what this city thinks of, not just me, but all of us."
Mitchell and his wife, Judy, were on hand Friday morning to greet Young as he arrived at their home to collect the garbage for the last time. The previous day, the Mitchells hosted about six neighborhood residents at their home, where they painted the signs and had a barbecue.
"We even had a little 8-year-old that was painting a sign," Judy said.
"It's a close-knit neighborhood and we're getting closer," Mitchell added. "This certainly helped bring everyone together. Everyone in the neighborhood thought it was a great idea."
Further up Young's route on South Anne Street, Wayne Baxter was waiting next to his garbage can with a smile on his face. Baxter, who has lived in the area since 1975, told The Press he has never had to worry about his trashcan getting knocked over, or the truck missing his home.
"I'm going to miss it," Baxter, who also helped with the planning and painting, said. "We just decided we wanted to do something to show that we appreciate how well they take care of us."