The everyday ritual of waste disposal, typically a passing thought in our daily lives, reveals a significant story of human effort and societal responsibility when we take the time to consider the work of waste workers. From the busy metropolis of New York City, where the DSNY reigns supreme, to the smaller-scale, community-centered operations of the Pedal People worker cooperative, the commitment to managing our discarded materials remains a constant. The DSNY, a powerful force with a huge hierarchical organization, mobilizes a complex collection of sanitation trucks and devoted workers, traversing the city’s streets to collect the large amounts of waste produced daily. Their physically demanding work, often performed in the hours before dawn and under dangerous and challenging conditions, speaks to the central role they play in preserving urban order and maintaining public health. On the other hand, the Pedal People, with their human-powered bicycles and their dedication to more sustainable practices, present a valuable alternative. Their cooperative approach, stressing community engagement and environmental awareness, shows that waste management can be a localized, eco-friendly activity. Pedal People reminds us that there are alternatives to traditional, fossil-fuel-driven systems. In spite of their greatly different approaches, both the DSNY and Pedal People underline the crucial importance of waste workers. They are the people who address the consequences of our consumption, reminding us that every item we discard has an impact. They play an essential part in keeping our communities clean and inhabitable, and their work, whether carried out on a large or small scale, deserves our appreciation and respect. They are not only removing waste; they are also protecting our environment and promoting the overall health of our society.