Workers reach into a foot high trough of garbage, plucking out loose cans and bottles. Between loads they use snow shovels to heft trash that has fallen on the floor back onto the conveyer. The unceasing river of trash is a maelstrom of soaked paper, cans, rotten meat, broken glass, tampons, kitty litter and more. A drizzle of trash particles permeates the air. The press was kept out of the facilities when the program began.
Pay is close to minimum wage.
Although steel-toed boots, hard hats, and safety glasses are required, hazards abound such as used hypodermic needles, bleach, and smoldering ashes from barbecue pits. Rats, dead pets, sex toys, used condoms and snakes add to the risk. Many of the facilities remain primitive in terms of safety. Hazards include infection, back pain, repetitive-strain injuries, needle sticks and lacerations from cans and glass. Workers with backgrounds in farm or slaughterhouse labor shrug off the risks.