Kassel's leaf hero: Felipe Rodriguez-Ledesma fights against autumn waste

Kassel's leaf hero: Felipe Rodriguez-Ledesma fights against autumn waste

Harleshausen, Deutschland - in Kassel, Felipe Rodriguez-Ledesma, a passionate city cleaner, ensures cleanliness and order. With his team he is on duty every day to free the streets of leaves and garbage. "I like everything about my job," enthuses the 42-year-old, who came to work as a career changer. Together with ten colleagues, he maneuvers the column vehicle through the narrow streets of Harleshausen, where the colorful leaves of the maple trees fell onto the floor.

Rodriguez-Ledesma and his troop are part of one of seven teams that ensure traffic safety in Kassel in autumn. "We are mainly in Harleshausen, Kirchditmold and parts of Wilhelmshöhe and Rothenditmold," he explains. The city cleaners work according to a defined plan every day and concentrate on streets with a high deciduous amount to minimize the risk of slipping when wet. "We clean one route for two to three hours," he reports, while you free the streets from the leaves with brooms and leaf blades.

challenges at work

The work in autumn can be challenging, especially when wet leaves are mixed with mud. "The mixture is very difficult," says Rodriguez Ledesma. The wind can also make the work more difficult by distributing the foliage. Despite these challenges, the team enjoys the appreciation of the population, which they often meet in a friendly manner. "We do something for people," he emphasizes proudly.

Overall, the city cleaners collect around 1,500 tons of leaves during the season, with more than half of the teams themselves. The rest comes from private households that can hand over their leaves at collection points. Rodriguez-Ledesma documents the work of his team in videos that show the hard work and team spirit. After a long working day that begins at 6:30 a.m., the city cleaners look forward to their well -deserved end of the day while they close and warm up the gray flap of the vehicle.