Nearly every job in the District has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Some people are working from their homes instead of going into an office; others have taken pay cuts or lost their jobs entirely. But there are plenty of people who are still doing their work in person, even as the world has changed dramatically. This series features the voices of the “still at workers,” telling us what their lives are like right now and what they wish other people knew about being an essential worker during a pandemic. 

Octavia French is a 28-year-old sanitation worker with the D.C. Department of Public Works. She lives in Kenilworth with her 7-year-old son. While much of the District is shut down, her daily routes take her from Capitol Hill to Shaw to Georgetown, where she has been collecting trash and recycling during the crisis.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How has your job changed since the start of the pandemic?

People are ordering a lot of boxes. It’s more recycling than usual because everybody’s home. They’re eating or drinking or ordering stuff, cleaning up their houses. 

The kids and the citizens, they leave notes on the can or on the ground or on their doors or their gates, like thank yous and saying how much they appreciate us. In Capitol Hill, the kids drew in chalk “Thank you, DPW,” on the ground. It was very nice.

And there’s no traffic. Basically, it’s empty. It’s only us on the streets. 

What have your interactions with people been like?

I really don’t interact with too many people unless they come out. Today someone came out and gave us a thank you card and a goodie bag. Really, we keep our distance from people.

What is your typical day like?

I get up at about 5:30. I’ve got three different alarm clocks so I won’t oversleep. I get to work about 6:15.

I get in the truck, wait for my coworkers. I put my gloves and my face mask on, and my other gloves—all of that on. Then we get out and start the route. 

Monday through Friday, I’m kind of scattered out. Mondays I’m in Capitol Hill, Tuesdays I’m in Shaw area. Wednesdays I normally float. Thursdays I’m off of H Street, and Fridays I’m in Georgetown. 

The driver is the crew chief, and the two of us are the sanitation techs. I’m on one side, and the other guy’s on the other side of the truck.

What kind of safety measures or PPE are you using to do your job? How are you staying safe?

DPW gives us masks and extra gloves. We put the gloves underneath our work gloves, or you could get some protective glasses. They give us hand sanitizer, too. So, every time we finish, we take the stuff off, and wash our hands with the hand sanitizer until we get to a sink. And normally, if we’ve got two loads, I will change out my mask and my gloves.

They gave us some hand sanitizer, but I already had some in the truck before the coronavirus. As long as I keep myself safe and make sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, then I feel safe.

Are there any ways that people can make your life or job easier?

We get a lot of cans where you open them and they’re filled with tissues or napkins or anything that’s unsanitized that we could get contaminated from. If they would put it in a bag and tie it up, that would make it easier for us. Instead, when we try to dump the can, the tissues and napkins fly everywhere, and then we have to clean up the mess.

As long as they bag the tissues and the napkins and all that extra stuff up, and have it in a bag and not just out scattered everywhere, then for the most part, we can handle the rest.

How has your family been affected by your work?

Before the coronavirus, school was in session and all the activities were open. Now I have to find someone to watch my son since he’s out of school, and I still have to work. I have to get one of my siblings to stay at my house, or my son will go over to my mother’s house.

Has your son said anything about what it’s like for him with you going to work during the crisis?

No, because he knows I work rain, sleet, or snow, so he knows I’ve gotta be out there.

Previous Still At Workers: 
A Janitor Hopes People Will ‘See The Sacrifice That We Custodians Are Making’
A Security Guard At D.C. Police Headquarters Says ‘We’re Like Human Body Shields’