Name: What I discovered in New York City trash
Uploaded: 2013-11-05T16:00:26Z
Duration: 7 min 39 s
Description: New York City residents produce 11,000 tons of garbage every day. Every day! This astonishing statistic is just one of the reasons Robin Nagle started a research project with the city's Department of Sanitation. She walked the routes, operated mechanical brooms, even drove a garbage truck herself--all so she could answer a simple-sounding but complicated question: who cleans up after us?

New York City residents produce 11,000 tons of garbage every day. Every day! This astonishing statistic is just one of the reasons Robin Nagle started a research project with the city's Department of Sanitation. She walked the routes, operated mechanical brooms, even drove a garbage truck herself--all so she could answer a simple-sounding but complicated question: who cleans up after us?

Robin Nagle: What I discovered in New York City  trash

What I discovered in New York City  trash

At the heart of NYC, a relentless daily battle against 11,000 tons of garbage is waged by the unsung heroes of sanitation.

Sanitation work, one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs, reveals the peril and weight carried by workers in keeping cities clean.

Exploring the stigma against sanitation workers uncovers their vital role in public health, economy, and our daily speed of life.