Merced Refuse Equipment Operator finds joy in serving her community

Kristie Light’s day begins early by most standards. She is usually at her workplace by 5:45 a.m. But by Light’s standards, she gets to sleep in as her start time is not nearly as early as when she began her old job.

“I used to work midnight, start at midnight to two and work all day, so getting up early doesn’t bother me,” Light said.

That’s just one advantage she has a a refuse equipment operator for Merced.

A former commercial truck driver, Light said she would be gone about 70-80 hours a week. She has been a City of Merced Refuse Equipment Operator for three years and said she enjoys the job as it allows her to be home regularly.

While she enjoys interacting with customers along her route, especially children, she said she finds it rewarding to clean up the area. Her shift usually begins about 5:45 a.m. and ends around 2:15 p.m. most days. Light said she appreciates the early starts as it allows her to spend more time at home with her husband and their dogs.

Some of the challenges she faces on the job is dealing with difficult customers and retrieving lost cans and people placing bins too close to vehicles or other hard to reach locations.

A typical work day for Light, sees her driving two routes: one to pickup garbage and another for organics or recycling. Not only does Light enjoy her job, she gets to work with her stepson who is also Refuse Equipment Operator.

“You’re leaving their neighborhood nicer, “ said Light. “The little kids crack me up, they get so excited.”

A section of Light’s Thursday route takes her past a home daycare where the truck is popular with the children.

“It’s fun,” said Light. “I wave at them, I say hi and they’re all jumping up and down squealing and cheering. I don’t know why they get such a kick out of the truck.”

Light said she even gifted the kids at the daycare a toy garbage truck that includes moving arms for dumping the refuse. Light said some of the more challenging aspects of the job include running into rude customers or having to retrieve cans customers leave behind a car or over a curb.

Basketball hoops also pose a challenge when the cans are left under them as they get in the way of the robotic arm that lifts the cans for emptying into the truck. Light said losing a can in the truck can also be a frustrating.

In developing relationships with customers along her route, Light said you get to know people’s routines and she makes adjustments in order to ensure pick up goes smoothly.

Some residences along her route include homes where people may not be physically capable of taking refuse and recycling cans to the curb. In those instances, Light retrieves the cans from the property and wheels them to the truck where they can then be emptied.

“You know, this one’s usually late bringing out their can. So you kind of like, hesitate a second,” she said. “Or just different ones that you, you know, used to seeing outside watering their plants say good morning, or walking their dog, or, I don’t know, it’s just, it’s kind of, it’s kind of cool. You get to know the people in the area, you know, a little bit. Taking their kids to school. You just get a little piece of their everyday life.”

Light said she enjoys her job, even though it may appear to be unglamorous.

“It’s one that people don’t think a lot of,” said Light. “They put their trash out there, and they go to work and they come home and it’s empty, or hopefully it’s empty.”

Light said that it’s nice when customers are grateful.

“You don’t always see them, you don’t always meet them, but sometimes they come out and thank you and stuff. So, I mean, that’s kind of cool.”

Her life now is far different than when she was a truck driver. The hours are better, she is home more often and even gets paid vacation days.

“It’s nice to go to work and like your job,” she said.

This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 6:00 AM.