On a recent holiday, Craig Andrews caught up with Wanaka-based Tracy Mahy, who does the hard yards collecting glass recycling from the streets of Hawea.

Tracy drives a specialist bit of kit in the form of a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Econic 2630 L, dedicated to collecting recyclables and waste. The glass collected was destined for Wanaka’s Waste Management depot to be sorted.

She enjoys this work and appreciates a nice comfortable truck with air- conditioning on hot Central Otago days. The local scenery is also a highlight for her in this role. It is something that she never gets tired of.

The poor driving habits of road users around the region do, however, frustrate her. But that is about the only brickbat.

Tracy’s backstory involves farming for most of her life, and her driving history is relatively young at only four years. She does recall a Volvo G88 being the first truck she drove while on the farm.

Before getting onboard with Waste Management, she drove buses for Ritchies for two and half years, mainly running between Queenstown and Dunedin.

The Merc is one of six Econics collecting recyclables and rubbish from around the Queenstown Lakes District region, three each in Wanaka and Queenstown. A smaller truck is used for town bins and areas where the bigger Mercs cannot access.

The waste management role is Tracy’s first foray into driving big gear and one she is quite happy doing.