Sally lives in Lake Oswego. She has always been a huge supporter of me and has been friends with both me and my dad for years. Republic Services provides her recycling service.

Wednesday is her garbage pickup and this reporter was at her house. A new hire in training picked up Sally’s glass bin and emptied it into the truck’s collection bucket and dropped the bin in as well. The trainee, whose thoughts were elsewhere, did not notice. The new hire put his hard hat on, pushes the switch, and up up and away went the glass and Sally’s bin into the hopper at the top of the truck.

I gave Sally a note that said “UP” and she asked, ” What does that mean?” She looked out her window and her bin and the glass were going “UP”  to the collection hopper.

Sally tried to intervene, but the truck had already continued on its route and Sally’s efforts proved futile.

Sally’s husband Frank called Republic and told them what happened.  I personally visited the facility to investigate what happened and, if possible, locate and recover Sally’s glass bin. Despite our efforts, the bin was never recovered. I gave Republic Services Sally’s address and they assured me she would get a new bin. A few weeks later, a new bin was delivered to her house.

Republic apologized and told Sally this happens a lot training new hires and she laughed and said, “I bet it does.”