New York, NY —

The women who help rid the city of its trash are being honored. Eighty-five women were honored at the ceremony Friday — both uniformed and civilian employees — including one who's worked there for for 45 years. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

When you think of a sanitation worker — riding on a garbage truck and dumping trash can after trash can — most people would picture a big, tough guy in their minds. But out of 7,000 uniformed city workers nicknamed "the strongest," 200 of them are women. In honor of women's history month, the department celebrated some of the the first females to suit up in green. Verilyn Gallo was only the third woman in the department. Now, 21 years later, she says when people see her drive the largest Sanitation truck there is they still can't believe it:

GALLO: I drive "the wrecker" — any piece of equipment that the department of sanitation has — I could pick it up. I have people in the truck - who say, you don't drive that big truck and I say, "oh yes I do."

REPORTER: Sixty-year-old Gallo says she still enjoys her job and the physicality of the work and is no hurry to retire.

For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.