Department of Sanitation Employees at Work

The AVAC Unit

Jerry Sorgente, senior stationary engineer
Lloyd Smith, stationary engineer
John Vormittag, stationary engineer
TJ Krysiewicz, stationary engineer
John Scanlon, machinist
Billy Dash, oiler
Scott Johnson, high pressure plant tender
Steve Mackauer, machinist
Bob Prisco, electrician

Photographs by Kate Milford

View across River Road of the AVAC facility between the fire station and the Motorgate garage. The two large stacks send cleaned air out of the facility.
View across River Road of the AVAC facility between the fire station and the Motorgate garage. The two large stacks send cleaned air out of the facility.
Senior stationary engineer Jerry Sorgente.
Senior stationary engineer Jerry Sorgente.
View of the control room with two pneumatic tubes running overhead and the container switching area below. The tubes houses two identical systems, one for the West side and one for the East.
View of the control room with two pneumatic tubes running overhead and the container switching area below. The tubes houses two identical systems, one for the West side and one for the East.
View of the red dust collectors for the East Side of the island from the container switching area. The dust collectors filter the air that is sucked through the system after the heavy garbage is separated out in the cyclone separator (larger red cone partially visible to the left), and before it is blown back outside through the stacks.
View of the red dust collectors for the East Side of the island from the container switching area. The dust collectors filter the air that is sucked through the system after the heavy garbage is separated out in the cyclone separator (larger red cone partially visible to the left), and before it is blown back outside through the stacks.
Stationary engineer John Vormittag standing next to the viewing portal where the cyclone separator meets the vacuum chamber. Engineers don’t really use the viewing portal, they identify problems by looking at the air pressure gauges and by the sounds the garbage makes as it moves through the tubes.
Stationary engineer John Vormittag standing next to the viewing portal where the cyclone separator meets the vacuum chamber. Engineers don’t really use the viewing portal, they identify problems by looking at the air pressure gauges and by the sounds the garbage makes as it moves through the tubes.
Stationary engineer TJ Krysiewicz pulling garbage from the West side of Roosevelt Island from inside the control room.
Stationary engineer TJ Krysiewicz pulling garbage from the West side of Roosevelt Island from inside the control room.
Electrician Bob Prisco working on the air compressor. Without the air compressor none of the machines would be able to function. Although not assigned fulltime, Prisco is the facility’s main electrician.
Electrician Bob Prisco working on the air compressor. Without the air compressor none of the machines would be able to function. Although not assigned fulltime, Prisco is the facility’s main electrician.
Oiler Billy Dash changing the oil on one of six 300-horsepower exhausters in the AVAC facility basement.
Oiler Billy Dash changing the oil on one of six 300-horsepower exhausters in the AVAC facility basement.
High pressure plant tender Scott Johnson guiding the engineer in the control room as they move containers in and out of the vacuum chamber. Full containers moved toward the garage doors for pick up.
High pressure plant tender Scott Johnson guiding the engineer in the control room as they move containers in and out of the vacuum chamber. Full containers moved toward the garage doors for pick up.
Machinist Steve Mackauer in the tool closet showing the heavy steel cross piece that is used to remove the most difficult jams. This last resort piece is attached to a cable and a truck pulls the cable until the object is dislodged. It was bent during a particularly difficult jam.
Machinist Steve Mackauer in the tool closet showing the heavy steel cross piece that is used to remove the most difficult jams. This last resort piece is attached to a cable and a truck pulls the cable until the object is dislodged. It was bent during a particularly difficult jam.
Stationary engineer Lloyd Smith demonstrating how the dust collector works after opening the door to reveal the dust bags.
Stationary engineer Lloyd Smith demonstrating how the dust collector works after opening the door to reveal the dust bags.
View of garbage through the portal where the cyclone separator meets the vacuum chamber.
View of garbage through the portal where the cyclone separator meets the vacuum chamber.

Exhibition

Organized by Juliette Spertus with Project Projects

Curatorial assistant: Jack McGrath

Exhibition and website design: Project Projects

Research: Juliette Spertus, Jack Conviser and Jack McGrath

Video: Gregory Whitmore

Photography: Kate Milford

Sponsors

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC)

Envac AB

Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS)

Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA)

Lamson Airtubes, LLC


Fiscal sponsor and educational programming

The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP)


Special thanks

NYC Dept. of Sanitation; Jerry Sorgente, DSNY; and Judith Berdy, RIHS

Every effort has been made to locate the copyright holders of materials included on this website in order to obtain their permission to publish it; however, if you believe any material is being used in breach of copyright, please contact us with details.


Please contact the Fast Trash curatorial team with questions or comments regarding this website at info@fasttrash.org

 
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