Las Cruces area kids were able to see, touch, and even sit in the driver’s seat during the 3rd Annual “Touch-A-Truck” event held at Camino Real Middle School on Saturday, August 26th. Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) participated, providing three different solid waste trucks to expose young people to the technology involved in managing solid waste and even planting seeds for possible future careers.
Scott Harris, LCU equipment operator senior, explains, “Every week when we pass daycares and kindergartens, kids are lined up and pressed against the fences to try to see what we do.” At this event, Harris took the opportunity to show the youngsters all about his job. He also educated and taught awareness and how to stay safe.
Every week, LCU provides more than 32,000 residential customers and almost 2,700 businesses with reliable solid waste management. Over the course of a month, more than 6,000 tons of trash is removed and hauled to Corralitos Regional Landfill for final disposal.
At this once-a-year event, children saw trucks up close and in action. Adam Luna brought his two-year- old son to see the trash trucks, noting, “My son waits every Tuesday to see the trash truck come down our street.”
LCU’s Green Grappler was there to teach about green waste (yard waste) recycling; a residential side loader showed how brown bins at home, full of bagged and tied trash, are picked up and emptied at the curb; and a commercial front loader demonstrated servicing big 6-cubic yard dumpsters full of garbage at businesses.
LCU equipment operator senior, Marcelo Archuleta said, “At Touch-a-Truck we can take the time to show them what we do, teach safety, and give back to our community. It’s all good!”
Kids ran and hopped in the front seats where they blew the truck horns. Nine-year-old Miranda Boyer climbed into the front seat of the residential side loader, helping her younger brother honk the horn. She exclaimed, “I like how big and fancy the trucks are, and they aren’t even scary at all!”
New message decals were displayed on the side of each truck, of a friendly cartoon character saying: “Give me Space!” to remind residents to leave the truck arms enough room to do its job and other tips about how far away you should stay from a trash truck. LCU provided activity/coloring books filled with information and safety tips, and ways to go green.
LCU is also involved in other community events including Career Days, Earth Day, and other educational events for the youth in the Las Cruces community.
Content provided by Las Cruces Utilities
You can reach Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.