The idea that garbage men or sanitation workers only work one day a week is a common misconception because residents only see them on their own collection day. In reality, sanitation workers work a full 40 to 50 hour week with physically demanding schedules. Most municipalities are divided into 4 or 5 collection zones, so crews collect garbage in a different neighborhood each day Monday through Friday, often starting as early as 4 or 5 AM and working until afternoon. A typical residential driver and loader will service 800 to 1,200 homes per day. Beyond curbside collection, the rest of the week includes commercial dumpster collection for businesses, restaurants, and apartment complexes, bulk item pickup for furniture and appliances, yard waste and organic compost collection, and recycling collection on separate routes. When not on the truck, sanitation workers perform mandatory daily truck inspections, maintenance, cleaning and washing of the truck body to prevent odor and corrosion, safety training, and paperwork including route logs and incident reports. Many also work at transfer stations, landfill operations, or recycling sorting facilities. During winter, they may assist with snow removal. It is a full-time, year-round profession that operates in all weather conditions, not a one-day job.
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