Fairfax County Solid Waste supervisor Martin Gomez describes route work, hazards and resident guidance

Martin Gomez, a senior maintenance and route supervisor with Fairfax County Solid Waste Management, described the operational work that keeps curbside trash and recycling services running and urged residents to show crews respect when service issues arise.

Gomez said pre-shift responsibilities include checking vehicle-status reports, ensuring trucks returned empty and taking any loaded trucks for early dumping. "The first thing we do is come in. We get on the computer. We check the reports from the previous day ... to make sure there if there are any vehicles that were down the day before," Gomez said.

He gave typical route sizes: trash routes serving about 800 to 1,000 homes and recycling routes roughly 1,100 to 1,300 homes. Gomez described long early-morning shifts and contingencies such as breakdowns that can delay service. He said crews start as early as about 03:45 to avoid traffic and meet route schedules.

Gomez also said the job can be physically dangerous, calling solid waste work among the "top 5 in the ... United States" for hazardous occupations, and he described steady year'round employment and benefits as important advantages of the work. He asked residents not to overfill containers because "the total lift won't pick them up," which can cause missed pickups and roadside litter. He also noted that loose recyclables can blow away on windy days.

The profile closed with the interviewer thanking Gomez and a county narrator noting the Solid Waste Management program could not operate without staff who maintain vehicles and serve residents.