Respect: A campaign to recognize the Heroes who keep our cities clean

We may often pass by them on the street, but most of the time we don't even notice them, or the jobs that they do for us. And when they do stand out, it isn’t usually for the best possible reasons. They might have created a tiny obstruction in our own super-important daily lives - costing us valuable seconds of our day by doing their vital work during the morning rush hour, or blocking a road for a few minutes when we are already late for our meeting and trying to get the kids to school on time... In moments like these, it’s likely we won’t be feeling nearly as grateful as we really should be.

Visibly invisible. Invisibly visible.

On the other hand, as well as not being appreciative of the important work they do, there are plenty of us who are simply unaware of them altogether. While they are working hard for us, doing their jobs well, it’s almost as if they become completely invisible. And yet, their trucks and vehicles are everywhere, if you look. Remember how many of us wanted to be waste collectors too when we were kids? We'd wait for the big trucks to come in the morning, and it would have been a child’s dream come true - to be able to stand on the running board, to roll out and empty a waste bin, or pick up a huge a skip on a specially designed vehicle!

Our waste is their business

In fact, these are the people that take care of OUR waste. They deal with the jobs and tasks we find unpleasant, and the stuff that we don't need anymore. They have a vital impact on how our streets look and feel, and even though their work is unquestionably not just a piece of cake, it's their mission and they are all incredibly passionate about it. When you speak to some of our colleagues, you can see their eyes light up as they talk excitedly about what they do, but equally the sadness, when they tell you about other situations that they also have to face each and every day.

With our campaign we want to appeal to the common sense in all of us, to basic common decency, to respect, consideration, and understanding - qualities which have too often seemed in short supply during these times. We want to show you some of the situations that can make life especially difficult for our colleagues. Try to think about them too. And try do it differently the next time, as it will benefit us all.

Watch. Understand. Respect. See 4 real situations in action!

Story No. 1: The story about Patience.	Story No. 2: The story about Sweet Dreams.
Story No. 3: The story about Parking Respectfully.	Story No. 4: The story about Overcoming Obstacles.