WASHINGTON — When the trash truck rides by, one typically sees a guy hanging on the back, then hopping off to grab neighbors' detritus.
Though on some routes in D.C. neighbors can catch a smiley, lipsticked, and Gucci glasses-wearing technician more than keeping up with her male coworkers.
“The kids when they see me, the residents they be amazed to see a female on the back of the truck," Lisa Payton said.
DC's Department of Public Works (DPW) said Payton is one of six women who ride on the back of the city's dump trucks.
They said out of their total 273 sanitation workers, 24 are women.
"It's cool," her male partner said. "She works better than a lot of dudes."
Payton joined DPW 22 years ago.
“[My] parents [suggested it]. When I was 18, I needed a job. They asked me did I want to work for DPW, because they knew it was going to be a career choice for the future. And I've been here ever since," she said.
And she loves her job -- despite the smells and sights.
"Going like this...," she said opening a recycling bin. "And a rat come out, that’s scary," she laughed.
Payton said the best part, though, is interacting with neighbors.
“The women will be like you, 'Go girl!' and the men will be like 'Get that money!'” she said, laughing.
When asked if she's treated differently as a woman on the team, she said not at all -- they're all like a family.
She is proud, though, when she gets to work with some of the few other women in the department, like their driver that day.
Still -- the job comes with inherent risks.
“It can be dangerous at times, you know? Like, you got to hold on to the back of the truck. You got to be aware of cars, because cars don't care," she said.
The weather can also make it less than glamorous, as evidenced by the rain that soaked through her uniform during this interview.
“The rain, the snow, when we got to work out there when it's 100 degrees, we just gotta get the work done," Payton said.
She always gets it done with a flair, though.
“Just because I work for trash, I'm not gonna look like trash," she said.
She hopes to inspire kids to consider this career path -- because she's surprised she's here, too -- but glad.
“They see that they can do this too, because they see me doing it," Payton said. "Little kids -- girls and boys. They just be amazed, waving. I don't think they want to do it, though. But they know they can do it when they see somebody like me doing it."
And -- she wants to see more women donning those gloves, jumpsuits, and work boots.
“It's only a few of us here. We need more women to show out the men," she said.