San Francisco, California
Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Co., a subsidiary of Norcal Waste Systems, Inc.

"My Christmas tips range from cookies to a bottle of wine, to $5 or $10 sometimes. It depends. I once got some real funky candy that had been around the house for a while and smelled like mothballs. It was fluorescent, crystallized fruit. They were fluorescent orange wedges. I thought, there's no way I'm putting this in my mouth. I felt really good, anyway. It's nice to be acknowledged. And to have people noticing that we're doing a good job. It really doesn't matter if it's money. It could just be a handshake. I've been on this route for 23 years. I was born and raised on my route in the Marina District."

Best holiday tip: "The best tip I've gotten was $20. It's not so much material, just the acknowledgement."