Rumpke plays role in local boy's love of trash trucks

Tiffin mom Brittny Hagerman reached out to the A-T to share her 2-and-a-half-year-old son Max's love for trash trucks and the role Rumpke Waste & Recycling has played in appreciating that love. "Our Rumpke driver mentioned that Rumpke has a fan club for their little garbage truck fans," she told the A-T. "We signed up on their website a few weeks ago and got our fan club T-shirt (and) we were prepared for bulk pick up day!" Hagerman said her son's favorite day of the week is trash day. "This week was especially great because he got to see the garbage truck multiple times in one day!" She gave a shout-out to their Rumpke driver, saying he is great because he takes his time collecting trash so Max can watch. "Max gets to see the truck do all its tricks - honks the horn, picks up the dumpsters and for the big finale, he dumps the big bucket into the back," Hagerman said. "On several occasions, he's even made extra trips down our road when he sees Max standing outside, so we can get an even closer look. He truly is the best; we are so thankful that he takes time out of his busy day to put the biggest smile on our little guy's face. "Max loves everything about garbage trucks, it is always a quick scurry to the door when I tell him I hear the garbage truck coming. But I think his favorite part is watching the big bucket dump, he always lets out a big 'WOW!,' in total amazement, as if it were his first time seeing it!" It is not uncommon to find that Max has taken his garbage truck to bed with him, and we hear him singing Blippi's Garbage Truck song all the time. He loves anything with big tires, which is particularly sweet to me, as the men in our family have all worked with tires and big trucks/vehicles. Max's great-grandpa Wayne owned Thallman Tire (Firestone) and his great-uncle Mick Thallman owned Circle H for many years, where Max's uncle Garrett Gaietto learned the trade. Max also likes to inspect and go for rides in his uncle John's (Danner) tow truck." "I wish that I could remember the name of our driver because he is absolutely great," Hagerman explained. "He's mentioned the fan club to us, suggested fun garbage truck shows for Max, and always puts on a special show for us each week, rain or shine, he is a great guy and we want him to know how much we appreciate him." According to its website, the fan club gives Rumpke and trash truck fans an opportunity to learn about the equipment used to collect trash and recycling, the waste and recycling industry and Rumpke itself. Both children and adults are invited to join. To sign up for Rumpke's Fan Club, visit https://www.rumpke.com/about-us/education/rumpke-fan-club.