Dive summary:

• Columbia, Mo. is pushing for automated garbage trucks to improve worker safety and lower the $6,000 to $7,000 a month spent on workers compensation for injuries primarily caused by workers lifting up trash bags all day.
• The waste industry has the third highest payout of workers compensation out of the 40 divisions, between 10% and 13% of the city’s total workers’ compensation funds.
• By switching to automated garbage collection they expect to cut the cost of workers compensation claims by 75%, or nearly $100,000 per year.

From the article:

A dirty-looking garbage truck pulled over in front of a house near Clark Lane and McKee Street in the northeastern side of the city on a Thursday afternoon. The truck, giving off a putrid odor of decaying trash, was half-stuffed with black trash bags sweltering in the summer heat.

Drew Smith, wearing a neon green reflective shirt and thick gloves, jumped off and swiftly picked up a couple of trash bags on the right side of the road, and threw them into the truck. Henry Chapman, the driver, also got off to pick up the trash on the left side of the road. They jumped onto the truck and drove to the next house. ...