29 Nov

What works behind the scenes to make a city perform as such?

In order for it to truly remain La Citta Eterna, Rome relies on an array of invisible systems, whose functions are critical to the performance of the city as a stage for history, art, and culture. None of these duties are more critical than that of trash collection. This aspect of daily life is portrayed around the clock, in this “Tale of Two-Cities”. Rome’s AMA Corporation, responsible for cleaning up this historic city, plays lead part. The company’s employees can be thought of as the supporting cast, janitors, set designers, and “roadies” of the city-stage. Performances run around the clock, regardless of time of day, or weather. Each act involves a fleet of small trash trucks ferrying an army of workers throughout the city, in a well-choreographed, and often repeated performance. The collection system always plays a big part in this life-tale. As there are no apparent set pick-up times or locations, the success of our near-daily acts of depositing our recyclables always remains a mystery, as a good play should be. While many of the duties are rarely seen, like any good cast and crew, the AMA workers sweep, spray, haul, and clean away the day’s trash, with little complaint and even less recognition.