By the time most of East Hampton is just waking up, Marlon Castaño, a sanitation worker with National Waste Services on Springs-Fireplace Road, is already on his route, collecting garbage from about 100 houses.
The 46-year-old Colombian native has been a vital yet often overlooked member of the local work force for the past 14 years. The job allows him to provide for his family — his wife, Monica Torres, their daughter, Alexa, and their dog, Rio — while also helping East Hampton, he said. It is physically demanding, requiring him to lift, load, and transport around four tons of garbage every day, but the work is about more than just waste removal, it’s about connecting with people.
“I love my job because every day I interact with all kinds of people, from the owners of houses to the people who do different jobs inside the mansions,” he said.
These interactions range from brief greetings to deeper conversations. He finds joy in these encounters, though not all of them are positive.
“Sometimes it is a little discouraging when I arrive at some houses, say good morning, and people don’t respond,” he said. But the kindness he finds outweighs the indifference. “Some people also come out with bottles of cold water. They are very good people.”
As a garbage collector, Mr. Castaño has seen his fair share of strange and memorable things on the job. One of the most frequent surprises is when he opens garbage containers to find racoons stuck inside. “I get very scared,” he acknowledged, “but it is gratifying for me to free them and see that they return to their habitat.”
The challenges of Mr. Castaño's job vary with the seasons. In the summer, the heat can be unbearable, and the garbage often smells terrible, with containers full of worms. Yet he says he finds the work entertaining and appreciates the exercise he gets from being constantly on the move. In the winter, the cold weather brings its own set of difficulties. The trash might be frozen inside the containers, making it hard to remove, and driving on icy streets is dangerous. But there are also rewards, particularly around Christmas, when many clients show their appreciation with tips.
Mr. Castaño not only works long hours as a garbage man, but also spends his afternoons and weekends as a gardener.
His job is part of a much larger system that keeps communities running. The waste management industry in New York is a critical component of public health and environmental protection. Each year, the state generates around 14 million tons of solid waste, according to WasteDive, a sanitation industry publication. With over 60 percent of this waste coming from residential sources, the role of garbage collectors like Mr. Castaño is a big one.
New York State focuses on a waste management strategy that emphasizes reduction, reuse, and recycling, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation. Despite these efforts, a significant portion of waste still ends up in landfills or is incinerated. The state’s waste management industry employs thousands of workers who, like Mr. Castaño, are on the front lines while also being behind-the-scenes heroes.
Mr. Castaño says the work is satisfying because “I know that I am helping my community in some way.”
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Ean Frankel was a participant in The Star’s Summer Academy, a journalism program for high school students.