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The profession of garbage collector in Paris, although classified as an unskilled work, cannot be understood without taking into account dimensions partly ignored within professional qualifications, although they inform about the « social drama at work » of activities that are a public service, and a service to the public. However, these relational and affective dimensions are under the scrutiny of the city hall, as a consequence of two major political dynamics. The first one is linked to the recruitement of women, an opening that brought about changes in the work process. The second one stems from stronger demands in the area of cleanliness: agents are expected to provide a higher quality of service and to pay an increased attention to the « image of the city ». Thus, the profession of garbage collector questions, in its own way, the desegregation process of the working class, through the figure of a « service worker » that is typical of present working classes.