Are you supposed to tip the trash collectors?

[Darcy03231]

Thanks everyone. I'm going with my first instinct which was not to tip. It's just DH and I and we have one small bag of trash a week. Recycle bin gets picked up every two weeks. If we have an excessive amount of trash DH takes it to the dump himself as our trash guys will only pick up what's in the purple bags that we have to buy at $7.50-$10.00 a piece. If you try to put trash out in a different bag they won't take it. They leave it with a non-compliant notice on it. They didn't even put their names on the card. Just signed it "your trash guys."

 

[CPanther95]

I'd leave a gift for my mail carrier, but it's unlikely to get where it's supposed to go anyway.

 

[low-key]

I dont but I always have some pretty good garbage to look thru

 

[phorsenuf]

Thanks everyone. I'm going with my first instinct which was not to tip. It's just DH and I and we have one small bag of trash a week. Recycle bin gets picked up every two weeks. If we have an excessive amount of trash DH takes it to the dump himself as our trash guys will only pick up what's in the purple bags that we have to buy at $7.50-$10.00 a piece. If you try to put trash out in a different bag they won't take it. They leave it with a non-compliant notice on it. They didn't even put their names on the card. Just signed it "your trash guys."

Do you happen to live in the Concord, NH area?

 

[mrsheppo]

Thanks everyone. I'm going with my first instinct which was not to tip. It's just DH and I and we have one small bag of trash a week. Recycle bin gets picked up every two weeks. If we have an excessive amount of trash DH takes it to the dump himself as our trash guys will only pick up what's in the purple bags that we have to buy at $7.50-$10.00 a piece. If you try to put trash out in a different bag they won't take it. They leave it with a non-compliant notice on it. They didn't even put their names on the card. Just signed it "your trash guys."

I would leave them a card signed "From your trash customers"

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I'm not sure if you're "supposed" to, but I always do.

 

[Daisy62]

My parents used to buy beer for theirs many years ago. I'm talking 40
Years. Back then it was the same guys every week and they waved to them and said hi here and there. In my years I've never even seen ours long enough to know if it's the same ones or not. They come by at 6am when I'm still sleeping. I don't know anyone that tips them around here.

 

[RedAngie]

I've never tipped the trash collectors nor the mail carrier. Nor have I ever received a card or note from them soliciting a tip.

Trash and recycling are collected by one of those robot arm trucks. Once a month bulk trash is manually collected. I rarely see the trash pickups or the mail delivery.

I do tip the newspaper delivery person, since he/she is an independent contractor.

Never tipped any school bus driver either.

 

[sasywtch]

Here, they are county employees and make very good money for not getting out of their truck. My friend's dh is one and is given a memo that they are not to accept gifts.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We don't. They're salaried employees, paid by our taxes. Our trash people don't bother to get out of their trucks, and the recyclable pick-up truck has been known to "accidentally" skip our cul de sac. This was right before Christmas when the recyclables were overflowing with paper and boxes, so DH called the city to complain.

DH's uncle doesn't drink, but was given a case of wine for Christmas one year. He set the case on top of his trash cans -- as a gift to the trash people -- he got really good service after that.

 

[ez]

We tip our garbage guys with cash or gift cards ($25 each for three of them.) They do a great job and go above and beyond so it is just a token of our appreciation. Our mail is delivered to another neighbor's home about once every two weeks so the mail lady gets nothing.

As a former mail lady just want to point out, that if that is the pattern, it could be happening on your regular carriers day off. Being mail delivery also takes place on Saturday a carrier will usually get a different day of the week off besides Sunday, and at our office those days rotated.

 

[ez]

We seem to always have different garbage men so I dont tip as a rule, but sometimes if its right before Christmas and I have 20 bucks in bucks in my wallet and see them coming I'll run out and give it to them and say thanks. It's nothing that I worry too much about but I'd say every other year I do.

 

[Darcy03231]

Do you happen to live in the Concord, NH area?

About 20 minutes north of Concord.

 

[Patch'sD]

I have been tipping the garbage men for years. I have been cleaning out my house getting it ready for sale so they have done a little extra this year. I also find that my Cans are neatly placed upright after pick up. I give each collector $20 bucks which seems to go a long way. We also tip the mailwoman who is very friendly and nice to the dogs. she get's $20 bucks

 

[nkereina]

I've never even seen my trash collectors, much less had an interaction with them that might lead me to tipping them. I'm not even sure if it's the same ones who come each time.

My dad, on the other hand, works nights so he's often getting home from work around the time the trash collectors come in the morning. He stops and chats with them and has even helped them throw his garbage in the back of the truck! LOL! There's been times he needed a "favor" from them, like discarding a mattress or heavy item. He'll give them a couple bucks, or bottled water in the summer when he asks for help. There's been a few times he's gotten heavy duty work gloves from his work and has given them a couple pairs.

I can see tipping of the mail carrier as a little more typical, because you might catch them on a Saturday or if they come late in the day.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've never even seen my trash collectors, much less had an interaction with them that might lead me to tipping them. I'm not even sure if it's the same ones who come each time.

My dad, on the other hand, works nights so he's often getting home from work around the time the trash collectors come in the morning. He stops and chats with them and has even helped them throw his garbage in the back of the truck! LOL! There's been times he needed a "favor" from them, like discarding a mattress or heavy item. He'll give them a couple bucks, or bottled water in the summer when he asks for help. There's been a few times he's gotten heavy duty work gloves from his work and has given them a couple pairs.

I can see tipping of the mail carrier as a little more typical, because you might catch them on a Saturday or if they come late in the day.

My mail carrier has been known to leave packages sitting on my porch in standing water. Or not picked up items I went online and ordered a pick-up for.

Here's my tip....... do a better job and maybe you'll get more tips.

 

[nkereina]

My mail carrier has been known to leave packages sitting on my porch in standing water. Or not picked up items I went online and ordered a pick-up for.

Here's my tip....... do a better job and maybe you'll get more tips.

I wasn't saying people SHOULD tip their mail carriers. Just that I see it as more commonplace than someone tipping or giving a holiday gift to their trash collectors.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I've left cookies or candy for my mail carrier in the past. I figure her job just gets so much busier this time of year, it ought to be a little yummier too.

But I never thought about the trash guys. - Hmm, maybe I'll tape a Dunkins' Card to my recycle bin next week?

 

[Domo]

We always tip them something towards their Christmas kitty every Christmas, usually with a card They don't have the most relaxing or easiest job and it's important to recognise them at least once a year.

 

[tzolkin]

no we do not tip the trash people since now they sit in the truck and push a button and an arm picks up the can and dumps it. we also pay for trash pickup. we do give our mailman a small gift since when it is cold he brings the mail up too our house instead of leaving it in the box by the road.

Doesn't everyone pay for trash pickup?