John Wesbroom, an 82-year-old Biffa dustman from Oxfordshire, is thought to be Britain's oldest binman, still working 45 hours a week and emptying more than 1,000 bins daily.
Wesbroom has been on the rounds since the 1970s, covering nearly 60,000 miles—equivalent to six times the length of Britain—and emptying almost six million bins over his 50-year career. He gets up at 3.30am each morning to start his 5.45am shift and walks about five miles a day.
Fitness and routine
Wesbroom mainly works on the garden waste round, which he says involves the heaviest bins. He credits his fitness to not smoking or drinking and going to bed before 10pm.
"I love what I do, it keeps me busy and I enjoy the banter with the people I work with and the public. People are shocked when I tell them my age but it keeps me fit and happy," he said.
"You do have to be fit to be picking up the bins on my rounds, I walk about five miles a day and between me and another loader we are emptying up to 1,000 bins a day. The biggest bonus in my job is the people I meet, I just love talking to people, I've had the same customers for many years and seeing them every week you follow their lives too, it's brilliant."
Family support and rewards
Wesbroom, 16 years past the official retirement age, said earning a full-time wage gives him the freedom to live the life he wants. He has six grandchildren and enjoys treating them.
"I love to treat my grandchildren, I've got six so it's nice to be able to spend time with them and give them a little something too," he said. "They thinks it's great and they tell me to keep on going. I can take the grandchildren to McDonalds without worrying about money. I even play football with them."
Teamwork and youth support
Wesbroom works alongside Bradley Short, 22, on the garden waste round. Short described him as "an absolute legend."
"I'm 22 and he's 82 and we get on so well. The fact he is still out there grafting, always with a smile on his face and a positive attitude is inspiring. He shows age is no barrier and I hope I've got half his energy when I'm his age," Short said.
The green waste Wesbroom collects with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils is recycled into compost and sold to local farmers.
Wesbroom's milestone comes as Biffa pledges to support the government's Youth Guarantee scheme, creating work opportunities across the UK and helping young people gain experience and explore careers in waste.
Allison Green, Biffa's Chief People Officer, said: "John's story is a powerful reminder of the sense of purpose that work can provide. He continues to get up at 3.30am, whatever the weather, because he genuinely loves his job, meeting residents and working alongside colleagues of all ages."
"His commitment at 82 is remarkable. We are proud to have a multigenerational workforce where experience and fresh perspectives go hand in hand. We are also helping young people forge a career in waste working closely with Jobcentre Plus and local partners, we are helping identify young people who are not currently in education, employment or training opening doors to careers they may never have considered," Green added.
"It's a commitment that sits perfectly alongside John's story. By connecting decades of experience with the aspirations of young people starting out, he embodies the value of passing on skills, knowledge and confidence to the next generation. We are proud to stand alongside other major UK employers backing the Youth Guarantee and playing our part in helping more young people access the opportunities, experience and support they need to build successful futures."
