The Kansas CW | Dirty Work: Recyclables

Dirty Work: Recyclables

Megan Strader hosted a Live Interactive Blog on working at the recycling center - view a replay of the event at the bottom of this page.

(WICHITA, Kan.)

It's up to a group of men at the Harvey County Recycling Center to separate your paper from your glass, your trash from your tin.

"You gotta keep it sorted, all the plastics and the bottles and the cans. You gotta be pretty fast," explains Clarence Hirrod. 

But for one day, the guys got an extra hand. With the conveyor belt conveniently slowed down to accommodate my amateur sorting skills, I was given my first assignment of milk jugs.

It may sound simple, but it wasn't. I also couldn't call it pleasant. I didn't have the greatest aim and the pros ended up having to pick up my slack.

So I tried my hand a new station, this time it was paper. Unfortunately for myself and Bill, the man helping me on the line, I was about as good at paper as I was milk jugs.

But lack of talent doesn't slow the trash down. The more I sorted, the more I got behind and the more tired I got.

"These guys do this eight hours a day, five days a week and they are very fast. They are the best crew," explains Shawn Frazer, managers at the recycling center. 

So I was given a break from the belt to take on the bobcat. Again, I don't think anyone will be seeking me out for my skills, but this one I actually enjoyed a little. A nice way to wrap up a job I'm sure I wouldn't last eight hours at.

Hirrod adds, "At the end of the day it's time for a soda and some TV."

And after this, I'm also sure you won't hear me complaining about my job for while.

Coming up tomorrow watch me take a cleaning a fermenting tank at River City Brewery in Wichita.