Sanitation workers are the invisible engines of public health. Without them, waste piles up, disease spreads, and life comes to a grinding halt. Clean cities run on the backs of these crews—drivers, loaders, and haulers.
The CEO of Waste Management, Inc., earned $17.1 million in 2023. Republic Services? Over $13 million. Compare that to the average collector’s wage of $50–70K/year. That’s a 200x–300x pay gap. That’s the equivalent of saying one person is worth 200 of you.
When a CEO pulls in $17M+, what message does it send? That the work of one person is “worth” as much as 200 people combined? Let that sink in.
A 200-person company can generate $40 million/year and clear millions in net profit. Even 50-person firms often earn $7M+. Small companies, big output—because teams matter more than titles.
Memphis 1968: Sanitation strike demanded dignity—sparked MLK’s last march. Birmingham 2023: Strikes left mountains of trash in the streets in days. Garbage workers hold the line. And if they stop? Cities falter.
Real power isn’t hoarded at the top. It’s earned through responsibility—and honored by those who see it.
Sources: SEC filing (WM), Republic Services 2023 Annual, Memphis Sanitation Strike, BBC Birmingham Bin Strike