Big cities create a lot of garbage and it's a very good thing that Dallas has found a better method for #trash collection. The topic has been hotly debated and resurrected several times. This is mostly because residents have opposed any move to do away with trash collection from their alleys. Their response is not reasonable though, because it isn't like they are being denied service; their garbage will still be picked up. If their alley can be safely navigated by an automated truck, they can still have their garbage picked up there. And if not, they just have to move it to the curb in front of their house.
We have to keep the greater good in mind. Refuse vehicles have terrible fuel economy, most of them getting around 2.5 MPG. Automated garbage trucks are in the best interest of the community at large because they hold more garbage than the older trucks, which makes them far more efficient at transporting waste. We should be working on getting fewer vehicles on the road, not more, if we are ever going to move toward a greener and more ecologically responsible future.
The city stands to save a LOT of money if the older vehicles in their fleet are replaced with automated pick-up garbage trucks. These trucks and garbage carts are designed so that the driver doesn't need to leave the vehicle. Trash is picked up automatically using a robotic arm. It allows the driver to move quickly from curb to curb, saving time, fuel, and manpower. Since driving an automated truck requires less physical strength, this also means that a higher number of people would be capable of doing the job.
Handling garbage is also dangerous work. It is very common for workers to receive cuts from items that are thrown away, such as broken glass or other sharp objects. They are exposed to hazardous materials on a regular basis and can be bitten or scratched by vermin. When you add this to the muscle strains caused by lifting heavy objects, it adds up to a lot of occupational hazards. According to WorldAtlas, it is one of the ten most dangerous jobs in America.
Forcing sanitation workers to sift through trash in garbage-strewn alleys makes for an expensive, dangerous, and tedious process. Alleyway trash pickup may be more convenient to some of Dallas' residents, but it simply isn't sustainable, and it certainly isn't the most efficient use of resources.
The introduction of automated trash collection trucks at the curbs makes Dallas' alleys more pleasant because it reduces the amount of garbage that is strewn about. This brings a renewed sense of energy to the area and makes it a much nicer place to live. Residents who vociferously oppose the move towards automation should be helped to see the positive changes it is bringing.
