Robert Biasotti

Robert Biasotti, a third-generation garbage man and former partner at Oakland Scavenger Company, discusses the fascinating history of waste management in Oakland, shaped by immigrant families. He shares anecdotes reflecting the camaraderie and community spirit among garbage collectors, including their innovative recycling methods. Biasotti contrasts the past’s worker-owned ethos with today’s corporate landscape, illustrating how cultural identity and economic mobility intertwined through garbage. The conversation also addresses modern challenges of illegal dumping and the loss of personal connections in waste management.