Despite the difficulties, these women refuse to trash their jobs

Staring out my window at home, trying to write, I saw something I'd never seen before. A pretty woman, her hair pulled away from her face, was hurling my trash bag into a Republic Services trash truck.

Did I miss something? When did garbage gentlemen become garbage ladies?

In 1994 actually, at least in Las Vegas. Today there are 16 women working as drivers/pitchers for Republic. They're still a rarity, considering that there are 800 men working for Republic picking up trash in Clark County. So yes, the two trash-talking mamas I met Monday are unique and in more ways than one.

Republic located the woman I saw on my street, Deborail Morrison. We could be related, except she is African-American.

"I love my job," she said, describing herself as an optimist who enjoys putting a smile on people's faces.

Theresa Kazmierski is an imposing white woman, around 6-foot-2, and, yes, she went to college on a basketball scholarship.

Both are athletic and happy to work outdoors in a traditionally man's field. You'd be fit too if you were half of a two-person team who pitched up to 17 tons of trash, hitting between 1,500 and 2,000 homes daily. Drivers and pitchers trade off every half-hour or hour so the dirty work is shared equally. The demands of this job are precisely the same for men and women.

Theresa and Deborail assured me you get used to the smells, one of my major concerns about their career choice.

The heat is worse.

In back-to-back interviews at Republic's Cheyenne station, they patiently satisfied my curiosity because these are questions they get all the time.

Deborail is 35; she's worked for Republic for two years but used to work in air-conditioned comfort as an operations analyst at Nevada Power, a management position. Anticipating layoffs four years ago, she left that job to become a train conductor, another manly job, but the single mom with two sons, now 18 and 13, decided she needed a full-time job with more security. She applied at Republic, proved she could repeatedly pick up 50 pounds of trash, and soon lost 23 pounds off her toned 5-foot-6 frame.

"I figured they were paying me to work out," said the playful and outgoing Deborail.

The pay is good, as are the benefits. The current contract pays drivers $26.14 an hour salary. (Before you line up for a job, Republic isn't hiring right now.)

Deborail shared a secret with me. When she wears her Republic uniform or jacket, say to a bar, she's a man magnet. Men have bypassed the hot babes in the stiletto heels to zero in on her, knowing from the "Republic" insignia she has a steady, well-paying job with good benefits.

It's the same for the men. The Republic insignia is a chick magnet and the men know it.

While the money is good, both Deborail and Theresa said they like being outdoors, using their bodies to work hard.

Theresa, 36, has worked for Republic almost two years, but worked in Indiana in streets and sanitation work for 11 years. She's planning on doing this until she retires. She met her husband on the job and they have three children, 9, 10, and 11. The best part of the job? "I just like being outside, not stuck in an office job," said Theresa, who is shy and reserved.

What could people do to make trash haulers' jobs easier? Simple. Bag your trash.

Many people just throw their trash loose in a can and put it out on trash day. When the pitcher picks it up, things can spill all over the pitcher, especially on windy days.

"We call that 'dirty trash,' " Theresa said.

Plus, there's an act of kindness they welcome in the summer. Cold bottled water.

But don't emulate the little old lady who asked Deborail if she'd like a cold bottled water and then took a big gulp before handing the bottle over.

It supports the assertions by Deborail Morrison and Theresa Kazmierski that every day in their line of work is different, some days, really different, but nothing these two can't handle.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison/.