Life Behind the Wheel of a SO Recycle Bin Lorry
At SO Recycle, we often talk about recycling rates, sustainability, and helping businesses manage their waste but behind every collection is a person who makes it happen. This month, we want to shine a light on someone whose hard work often goes unseen and underappreciated: Toby, one of our dedicated bin lorry drivers.
Toby’s day begins long before any of us are close to waking up. He’s out on the road at about 2 am every morning. Working in the early hours gives him the advantage of quiet streets and empty town centres. Starting early also means businesses can open their doors without disruption. Entrances are clear, bins are empty, and waste is already on its way to being recycled.
On a typical shift, Toby empties around 80 bins, visiting dozens of businesses in the process. It’s a physically demanding job that requires a mix of skill, patience, and precision. Between collections, he’s constantly checking routes, operating the truck, and making sure everything is done safely and efficiently.
Being a bin lorry driver isn’t easy. Much of his work involves reversing into tight spaces such as service roads, car parks and loading bays where precision is everything. He probably spends half his day going backwards! The rest of the time, he’s navigating narrow streets and busy areas to collect bins, often testing the patience of drivers stuck behind his truck. It’s demanding work that starts early, runs long, and requires constant focus. Yet it’s thanks to people like Toby that businesses keep their waste moving, recycling stays on track, and our town centres remain clean and tidy.
If you ever cross paths with Toby, you’ll notice one thing right away. He’s always smiling, always happy to chat, and proud of the work he does. He knows many of his regular customers by name and takes real pride in leaving each site spotless. He’s one of those people who never seeks recognition, but whose efforts make a huge difference every single day.
And it’s not just Toby keeping things moving. Behind the scenes, we’ve got a whole team of dedicated operatives who prepare and maintain the trucks, to the weighbridge operators, mechanics, and office coordinators who plan routes, manage schedules, and keep everything on track. Together, they form the backbone of SO Recycle, working tirelessly to keep the industry running efficiently and sustainably.
Without Toby and the rest of the team, none of what we do would be possible. While most of us are still asleep, he’s making sure bins are emptied, recycling gets collected, and businesses can start their day without a hitch.
So next time you arrive at work and see your bins neatly emptied, take a moment to think about the people behind the process. Toby’s already been and gone, ready to start all over again tomorrow.
