Garbage collectors collect rubbish from houses, industries and commercial businesses for disposal or recycling.

They are sometimes called: Sanitation Workers, Street cleaners or an old term "Dustmen"!

Garbage collectors may perform some of the following as part of their duties:

• ride in or on garbage trucks
• collect waste and load it into bins or trucks
• return empty bins to footpath
• operate machinery or compacting equipment
• drive trucks, street sweeping machines, or machinery at the tip.

Garbage collectors need to be able to identify recyclable materials (such as paper, glass, plastic, aluminium and steel) so these can be recycled.

Some garbage collectors operate their own business collecting garbage bags and other rubbish from homes and/or businesses.

Garbage collectors work outdoors in all weather conditions. They usually work early in the morning and at night.