As the doorbell rang, Sara asked, “Who is it?”

“The garbage collector,” came the reply.

“Mum, the garbage collector is here,” Sara told her mother carelessly and lay down on the couch reading a book.

After giving the garbage collector the trash, Sara’s mother washed her hands and sat in the living room where Sara was reading a book.

“Mum, how disgusting is the garbage collector! How can he comfortably collect trash from everyone’s homes?” Sara exclaimed with disgust for the poor man.

“You shouldn’t say that, Sara. This is his job; he works hard,” her mother said in a strict tone.

“Why? What did I say wrong? He’s so dirty,” Sara asked in surprise.

“It was all wrong, it was him taking care of all the waste we throw out and he collects. What if he didn’t collect our trash every day?” her mother prompted.

“The garbage would pile up,” Sara replied.

“And then what?” her mum asked again.

“What do you mean?” Sara inquired.

“Tell me, what would happen if our house’s trash accumulated like that and no one to dispose of it?”

“Ugh, I can’t imagine that. it would be so dirty … so many pests, flies, germs and the stench … yuck!” Sara covered her nose.

“So, if our house’s trash is piled up like that… can you imagine all the houses with so much rubbish being accumulating inside of them?” her mother raised an alarming situation!

“Oh no! It would be garbage chaos, and I can’t think beyond that. it’s horrible, truly horrible!” Sara said.

“My child, these garbage collectors are doing their job. A job so unique that it keeps our houses clean and germ-free.”

“But mum, don’t these garbage collectors feel disgusted when they sort trash from everyone’s bags … ugh,” Sara made a face.

“He separates useful items from useless ones,” her mother explained.

“But what’s useful in trash? If it were useful, we wouldn’t throw it away,” Sara wondered.

“Some things in the trash can be reused, like empty bottles, cardboard, metal scraps and more. This process is called recycling.”

“I knew some things get recycled, but I didn’t realise useful items could actually come from trash,” Sara said.

“Yes, dear. It’s because of their hard work that our lives run smoothly,” her mother replied.

“Just like the gardener tends to plants, the cobbler repairs shoes, the tailor sews clothes, and the washer cleans them,” Sara added thoughtfully.

“Exactly! Everyone has their role. That’s how life goes on.” Her mother added.

“No doubt the garbage collectors are people who play a crucial role in keeping our surroundings clean and healthy. Their hard work ensures that waste is managed properly, preventing diseases and maintaining hygiene in our communities,” Sara concluded.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 14th, 2024