COVID AND THE LANDFILL DAY LABORERS
COVID AND THE LANDFILL DAY LABORERS You may have watched some documentary or other about people who survive by scavenging food, metals or other materials from Third World garbage dumps. It’s an easy target for filmmakers: one location and plenty of sadly compelling visuals and characters. Last week, I had an open day at my regular job. So I worked at the 300 acre Edgeboro Landfill, which rises 15 stories above the rivers and flatlands at its East Brunswick, NJ base. I spent seven-plus hours picking up pieces of plastic, styrofoam, insulation and other dross that would otherwise be windblown into surrounding areas, and stuffing it into black, 30 gallon Hefty bags. Fundamentally, the work resembled one of those Earth Day volunteer walks, where suburban people go to urban neighborhoods and, along with residents, pick up litter left by other residents. Though my work took more time, and I got paid for it. A landfill smells way worse than does a city street. The odor comes from mercaptans;