Submitted PhotoThe City of Valdosta honored sanitation workers during a week of awareness.

VALDOSTA – The City of Valdosta wants to recognize its public works employees for National Waste and Recycling Workers Week. 

Waste and Recycling Workers week was June 12-18. The week-long awareness effort focused on solid waste workers as superheroes.

The 2022 theme was “Solid Waste Workers are Superheroes.”

Recognized initially as National Garbage Man Day, the week-long awareness effort focuses on solid waste workers as essential employees, city officials said in a statement.

“Joining other counties, municipalities and organizations across the state, Valdosta is working to elevate the status of solid waste management industry workers,” city officials said. “This week stands as an opportunity to recognize the contributions that solid waste industry workers make in communities throughout the world and especially in the City of Valdosta.”

There are many ways that residents and businesses can show support and appreciation for the people doing these critical jobs, city officials said; they include:

– Slow down and pay extra attention when approaching or passing a collection vehicle.

– Follow the city’s guidelines for size and weight limitations and types of materials discarded in the regular trash.

– Properly dispose of hazardous materials; do not put them in the trash.

– Use more caution when putting harmful items in the trash such as broken glass or hot items.

– Consider ways to reduce, reuse and recycle things instead of throwing them in the garbage.

– Wave to collectors to show awareness and appreciation of their efforts.

– Express thanks and appreciation with a chalk drawing on the sidewalk or driveway, or a cardboard sign, banner taped to trash receptacle.

“We join together to thank the women and men who work daily to keep our neighborhoods and streets safe and clean,” city officials said.