IT'S MY JOB: Attendant a treasure among the trash at Beaufort County convenience center

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of stories on unpleasant but necessary jobs and the people who do them.

Only five minutes into his 10-hour day, sweat was already pouring down David Frazier's face as he quickly approached the long line of cars.

That line snaked out the gate of the Beaufort County convenience center in Burton and down the road a ways.

Despite the 90-plus degree heat, Frazier approached each car, offering to carry mounds of trash bags to the dumpster.

As if the heat wasn't enough, there was a light drizzle of rain, humidity you could cut with a machete and a less than floral bouquet.

Frazier continued to smile and say good morning as he worked.

His job title may read "drop-off attendant," but after only 20 minutes at the site, it's clear Frazier is more than that.

He is the friendly face of a less than pleasant chore.

"I like the fact that I get to -- if only briefly -- speak to the general public and to say hello and good morning," he said. "Because even in that short interaction, I can sometimes make someone's day better."

If the number of residents who greet Frazier by name and give him a pat on the shoulder is any indication, he's succeeding.

Frazier is responsible for opening the gate at 9 a.m. every Thursday and Friday. He's on the job until 7 p.m., lending residents a hand and making sure that the trash goes into the correct container.

He wears charcoal gray cargo pants, a neon green t-shirt, an orange construction vest and a baseball cap to help keep his head from cooking beneath the summer sun.

During an average Frazier shift, about 500 cars roll past carrying the leftovers of a week's work of living.

That means Frazier's top priority is helping as many folks as quickly as he can.

"Time is of the essence for people, and no one wants to sit around and spend a lot of time at the dump," he said. "So I try to cut that time and they seem to appreciate that."

That appreciation is the best part of his job -- the smiles and compliments he gets from users.

"I don't think I am doing anything extraordinary," Frazier said. "I'm just doing my job the way it should be done."

All those people in all those cars would likely agree.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 3:14 PM with the headline "IT'S MY JOB: Attendant a treasure among the trash at Beaufort County convenience center."