Studying the salary issue in the United States, one might be surprised to find some specializations there. Did you know that one of the highest paying jobs in New York is garbage collector? The average annual salary is $33,746, and after 5 years of work it rises to $88,616. This, by the way, is more than that of teachers, metro employees and parking lots. The salaries of scavengers are comparable in size to the salary of the police, and after 25 years of service they can safely retire. Read today in USA.ONE magazine:
What is interesting about working as a garbage collector in the USA
And how do they make money from garbage in America?
How much do garbage collectors in the States get 
Scavenger salaries in the US can vary based on various factors, including location, experience, and employer. Scavengers usually get paid by the hour.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2020, the median wage for scavengers and waste pickers was about $37,100 per year, which is about $17.84 per hour. However, it is worth noting that this amount can vary significantly depending on the specific region and the level of experience of the worker.
It should also be borne in mind that in the United States, many scavengers work in shifts and perform their duties even on weekends and holidays, which can increase their earnings through various bonuses and additional payments. Their schedule is difficult. Garbage collectors often start their shift at 7 am and work until 4-5 am the next day. But they also have privileges.
For example, cleaning workers have insurance that covers most of the costs of medical services and contributes money to the pension fund, which is not the case in many professions. It is no wonder that getting a job as a scavenger in the United States is not so easy. A few years ago, 96,000 candidates applied for 500 vacancies. This is more than those who want to enter Harvard University.
The risks of the profession 
Bureau of Labor Statistic has listed this occupation as one of the most dangerous in North America. Garbage collectors are in 5th place. There was a story when Edgar Brito, a cleaner from Massachusetts, found parts of a human body in one package. After that, he figured out the criminal and detained him at the crime scene right in the house.
Scavengers work with heavy and bulky items, lifting and carrying garbage containers and waste. This can lead to risks of back injuries, heavy stress on muscles and joints, cuts, bruises and other injuries.
Working as a scavenger can involve long periods of time outdoors, exposure to weather conditions such as extreme temperatures or rainfall, and working near noisy and polluted environments that can negatively impact the health and safety of workers.
Scavengers work with various types of equipment, including garbage trucks, press machines and other tools. Misuse or ignorance of safety procedures may result in personal injury or accidents. In addition, they often work near moving vehicles, including garbage trucks and cars. Accidents or collisions are possible, especially on roads with heavy traffic. Proper use of signal markings and wearing bright and protective work clothing can help reduce the risk.
But the danger lies not only in this. The job of a scavenger may involve hazardous materials or sharp objects such as broken glass, needles, chemicals, or hazardous waste. This may present a risk of cuts, bites, infections or poisoning if proper safety precautions are not followed. One day there was a gun in the trash. As scavengers in California loaded packages onto a garbage truck, the pressurized weapon fired, killing three cleaners. And then the car exploded.
How do people in the US make money off garbage? 
It is known that the United States is one of the leading countries in the field of waste and garbage recycling. When you move to the USA, you will quickly realize how automatically you start throwing garbage in the "correct" containers on the street. It will also become a habit to return coffee capsules to the store: upon purchase, they give you a bag in which you can put the used capsules and return them back.
Of course, sometimes there is simply no other choice, as recycling is actively promoted in the USA . When moving into a new home, the municipality provides 3 containers free of charge with labels for plastic, paper and food waste. Violation of this system may result in a fine.
Ten years ago, a young McKinsey consultant named John Vander Ark drew attention to the huge potential of a small garbage company. He developed a unique strategy by introducing different prices for different types of garbage. And it worked. Today Republic Services, a waste management company, is the second largest company in the US by revenue, even attracting investments from Bill Gates.
Imagine the Arex junkyard just north of Las Vegas in the Sheep Mountains. About 8,000 tons of garbage are delivered to this landfill daily by 280 trucks. Trucks leave the federal highway and climb a winding road to a working area of about 1.2 hectares. There, huge bulldozers with spiked wheels compress and compact the debris. The height of the rubbish pile has already reached 150 meters, but there is still enough space for burying waste "Sin City" for centuries. Republic Services, owner of the landfill, has an exclusive 15-year contract to collect trash and reclaimed materials from all over Las Vegas. The company receives 5% of the revenue from the contract, which is about $250 million annually.
But that is not all. Every day, Republic Services converts approximately 28 tons of unused food into gas and sells it to industrial companies. In addition, the company entered into a deal with a mining company that pays royalties to Republic Services for 150 truckloads of crushed rock stone daily. This stone is then used in concrete for the sidewalks of Las Vegas, helping to reduce the consumption of new materials and reduce the environmental footprint.
Also, don't forget the sale of recycled material, which companies pay handsomely for to maintain their image. Many types of waste, such as plastic, paper, glass and metal, can be recycled and used in the manufacture of new products. Some people collect these materials to recycle them and generate additional income. For example, you can drop off plastic bottles and aluminum cans at specialized collection points and get paid for them.
Old electronics such as computers, phones, TVs and other devices contain valuable materials that can be recycled. Some companies and organizations accept such electronics for recycling or recovering valuable components. You can get a certain reward for returning old electronics.
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