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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bin-women, a job?

64 replies

TheViewFromTheCheapSeats · 02/12/2021 12:09

Other thread reminded me of this.

Aibu to think there’s practically zero women employed working on refuse lorries? They park up near my house, multiple crews over the years, yet I never see women there or at the tip (except for the shop).

Most jobs have women now, if I walk past a construction site it’s certainly male dominated still but I do see some women. I never ever see female refuse collectors.

Is it just my area?

As someone else said, it’s quite a sort after job for many.

OP posts:
TheFormidableMrsC · 02/12/2021 13:16

I've seen two women working at our local tip. I haven't seen any female bin people though.

ColinRobinson · 02/12/2021 13:19

I’m not sure I’ve seen any. My dad was one and when I was little I wanted to be one too, I had loads of dustcart toys that I played with 😂. Then he suffered a bad injury at work and was disabled for the rest of his life. That was the end of my ambitions.

Minceandonions · 02/12/2021 13:20

Please forgive my slightly stupid comment, but could the issue of access to toilets be offputting to women? It would be of concern to me.
I mean, realistically do bin men wee into bottles or something?
Or do they do a round, return to base, then do another round? If so, this would obviously be fine.

SSOYS · 02/12/2021 13:21

I haven't seen any female bin collectors. I think it's still a very physical job, despite the lorries now lifting the bins, so not for everyone.

Female security and bouncers are very sought after- less likely to be a target for lairy blokes.

pigsDOfly · 02/12/2021 13:21

Talking about emptying bins being physically hard work, back in the 70s when driving across Bulgaria we saw loads of women working on the roads wielding great big heavy tools.

TurnUpTurnip · 02/12/2021 13:28

@SSOYS

I haven't seen any female bin collectors. I think it's still a very physical job, despite the lorries now lifting the bins, so not for everyone.

Female security and bouncers are very sought after- less likely to be a target for lairy blokes.

Oh really I would have thought it would have been the opposite and men less likely to get aggressive to other men.

My son did ask if the reason there wasn’t any women security guards in the shop round here was because women are less stronger than men, I really didn’t want to say yes that’s the reason but couldn’t think of anything else, so surprised to there’s lots in other places.

yorkshireteaspoonie · 02/12/2021 13:36

@Minceandonions

Please forgive my slightly stupid comment, but could the issue of access to toilets be offputting to women? It would be of concern to me. I mean, realistically do bin men wee into bottles or something? Or do they do a round, return to base, then do another round? If so, this would obviously be fine.
They have 'radar' keys which are basically skeleton keys for public conveniences
HumbugWhale · 02/12/2021 13:38

We have a "bin woman" and so does my mum who lives in a different council area!

purpleme12 · 02/12/2021 13:40

I don't know but also why are there no women taxi drivers?
And why are they all Asian?

megletthesecond · 02/12/2021 13:41

None here either.
I'd like to have a crack at it. I'm clearly fitter than most of the current blokes who trudge around and leave the bins everywhere. I'm sure I'd be in trouble for taking extra seconds to put the bins back sensibly and not block pavements though Hmm.

KitBumbleB · 02/12/2021 13:41

We have a very young and very pretty bin-woman
She swears like a sailor

CounsellorTroi · 02/12/2021 13:42

Plenty of female security officers at the last place I worked. Also quite a few female bus drivers. Never see pan any female bin staff though.

Mimilamore · 02/12/2021 13:45

We have a woman road cleaner in our area and she does a very good job too...

CounsellorTroi · 02/12/2021 13:45

@KitBumbleB

We have a very young and very pretty bin-woman She swears like a sailor
Somebody posted a thread about sweary binmen once, only it got auto corrected to sweaty binmen which most people thought she was being unreasonable complaining about!
steff13 · 02/12/2021 13:47

I've never seen a female in this job. I'm in the US, though.

What does "sort after" mean?

Mrsjayy · 02/12/2021 13:49

I* don't know but also why are there no women taxi drivers?
And why are they all Asian?*

Well I don't think all taxi drivers are Asian that's a bit of an assumption. My friend is a non Asian female taxi driver

DdraigGoch · 02/12/2021 14:02

@TurnUpTurnip

There’s some in my area.

All though my son asked the other day why there are no women security guards

I've known quite a few female security guards over the years.
purpleme12 · 02/12/2021 14:06

@Mrsjayy

I* don't know but also why are there no women taxi drivers? And why are they all Asian?*

Well I don't think all taxi drivers are Asian that's a bit of an assumption. My friend is a non Asian female taxi driver

Well they are where we are I honestly don't think I've ever seen a non aisan taxi driver where we live (also never seen a woman one either) Genuinely interested as to why
SSOYS · 02/12/2021 14:07

I don't know but also why are there no women taxi drivers?

Driving a cab can be very dangerous, especially where the customers pay cash.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4904386/Taxi-drivers-likely-workers-die-violent-death.html

Disfordarkchocolate · 02/12/2021 14:08

We have one. Does a great job. She also manages to look shiny and clean when I can't manage this if I empty our kitchen bin.

shouldistop · 02/12/2021 14:08

Physically I think I'd find the job quite hard and I'm relatively fit and strong. I'm 5"4 so about average height, I do have small hands though. I feel like most things seem to be designed for men - height and strength wise

DdraigGoch · 02/12/2021 14:09

Refuse collectors also seem to have quite unsociable hours, this could be a contributing factor.
Don't they usually start and finish early? Seems ideal for doing the school pick up (with the other parent doing the drop off).

JaninaDuszejko · 02/12/2021 14:10

I think on a nice spring or autumn day it must be a great job. Outside, exercise, working in a team, no responsibility. Not so great on a wet and windy January of course.

We have a female bin collector, she looks very fit.

DrSbaitso · 02/12/2021 14:11

There are a couple of bin women round here. I was a bit surprised but there's not been any issue. Job gets done fine.

DdraigGoch · 02/12/2021 14:12

@yorkshireteaspoonie

Working on the waste industry I can confirm it definitely still IS a very physically demanding job.

Whilst the front line workers collecting the bins are predominantly male (99%) the 'office based' supervisory and managerial staff is packed full of women.

Women just don't apply for the front line roles, which are advertised as 'waste operatives' not 'bin men/ women'

With wheelie bins and hydraulic lifts? Hardly like the days when burly men in donkey jackets would be carrying steel bins on their shoulders.
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