THURSDAY,MAY1,2003
NEWS
THEUNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN
13
Ray Williams, 46, collects aluminum cans in the alleys of the Oread neighborhood. He said he chose the student-dominated neighborhood because most students don't recycle. Williams and his friend, John Chafin, 37, make as much as $125 a month on their route of Dumpsters that dot the neighborhood.
Charlie Harris, Lawrence resident, handles cans turned in to Lonnie's Recycling, 501 Maple St. Lonnie Faler, Lawrence resident, runs a scrap metal recycling plant in Lawrence, which pays customers 25 cents per pound of aluminum. Faler, who has been in the business for 12 years, said people of diverse backgrounds hauled cans to his business.
Hands with long fingernails grab the Dumpster edge for balance. He scans the contents. Yard waste, mounds of trash bags.
He uses tools — a three-foot-long plastic stick with a pointed end — to tear trash bags to look inside. He's also got tongs to grab at cans. He used to have a ladder that would attach to the side of the Dumpster so he could climb in. New, the tools help him get to the Dumpster bottoms without diving in.
"Cause he's too big to get inside the Dumpster," Ray says. "He won't be able to get out when he do get in."
John rips open a bag. Rotting food, junk mail, bloody feminine napkins. He doesn't turn his face in disgust.
"Bubble wrap!" he says.
He reaches in and pulls something out, his beaming smile revealing rotting, yellow teeth. It's not the jackpot but still a prize.
He stands there popping. His grubby T-shirt barely covers his round belly. A trash bag of aluminum cans sits by his side.
Ray is already ahead at the next Dumpster. John follows. Bursts of popping come from his direction. He catches up and looks inside.
"You missed one," he says to Ray, pointing to a can in the corner. "Over there."
"He's a pro at it," Ray says to another friend, Michael Perkins, 21, who joined them in the can hunt.
The three trudge on. Approaching gray clouds top the horizon.
"It's coming from the east." John saws as he points west.
They walk a little farther and reach Perkins' apartment complex. He asks if anyone wants a drink. He rushes in and comes out with cans of Pepsi. They all take a time-out. Later, the cans will go in the bag.
Spitting rain turns into bigger droplets. Perkins heads home. Ray and John keep going. They haven't finished the route yet.
Winding down
"I asked you 15 times," Ray says. "He needs to make up his mind and speak his mind. Can't beat something into your head if there's nothing there."
Ray is sitting with John at their usual table at LINK. He's getting exasperated because John doesn't know what his plans are for the rest of the day.
They part ways. Ray runs some errands. John goes to help a friend mow lawns. Then he goes collecting for a couple of hours in the student ghetto.
dents are gearing up for another Saturday night in Lawrence. A group of friends are barbecuing in the back yard and listening to music. John minds his own business. He knows that the more they drink, the more cans there will be for him.
It's late in the afternoon. Stu-
"When students in town,that's when I get them," he says.
He fills two 10-gallon garbage bags and heads out. He's going to Ray's sister's house where he knows Ray will be. He stops at the intersection of 10th and Kentucky streets.
"People down here is just lick
Collecting cans is good exercise. He needs to lose some weight, he says, grabbing his belly.
ety-split," he says. "It's dangerous."
One of his bags is developing a hole. He eyes it carefully knowing cans could pop out.
Ray's sister, Annie Carter, greets him. "Good Lord! You've been carrying that a long way," she says to John.
John sees Ray and asks him for something cold to drink as he plops down on the front porch.
"I'm done for the day," he says.
I'm done for the day, he says.
Ray gives him some water, cold from the refrigerator.
John hands Ray the cell phone
he bought for him. He always keeps it attached to his pants. Ray calls Table 4 friend Grace Oshel to see whether she can pick up John and his cans to take him home.
She's on her way.
"Gracey? This is Raydogg and Johndog. We'vegot two bags if you've got the time," Rays says.
Ray and John talk about suc cesses along the route, how tall the grass is, whether it's too soon to mow.
John leans back on the cold cement porch to stretch out from a long day. His shirt
Ray Williams makes his way to the next Dumpster on his Saturday collecting route. He always follows the same path.
rides up his belly. Ray is sitting behind him."Friends to the end." he tells John, citing a line from Child's Play.
Soon Grace drives up in her burgundy car. John hops up. Ray tells him to pull his pants up and his shirt down.
They cram the cans in the trunk. They'll see each other tomorrow at Sunday LINK.
Edited by Julie Jantzer
Cate Batchelder is a Kansan staff writer. Contact Batchelder at cbatchelder@kansan.com.
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