Garbology

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the study of modern refuse. For the study of ancient refuse, see Midden. For the Aesop Rock and Blockhead album, see Garbology (album).

Garbology is the study of modern refuse and trash as well as the use of trash cans, compactors and various types of trash can liners. It is a major source of information on the nature and changing patterns in modern refuse, and thereby, human society. Industries wishing to demonstrate that discards originating with their products are (or are not) important in the trash stream are avid followers of this research, as are municipalities wishing to learn whether some parts of the trash they collect has any salable value.

The studies of garbology and archaeology often overlap, because fossilized or otherwise time-modified trash preserved in middens is quite often the only remnant of ancient populations that can be found. For those who did not leave buildings, writing, tombs, trade goods, or pottery, refuse and trash are likely to be the only possible sources of information. In addition, ancient garbage sometimes contains information available in no other way, such as food remains, pollen traces of then local plants, and broken tools. As an academic discipline it was pioneered at the University of Arizona and long directed by William Rathje. The project started in 1973, originating from an idea of two students for a class project.[1]

Garbology is also used as an overtechnical term for waste management, with refuse workers called garbologists, first seen in Australia in the 1960s.[2][3]

History

Early work at University of Arizona

A. J. Weberman invented the word garbology in 1971 when he went through Bob Dylan's trash.

environment. During the time that Rathje was starting his projects many misconceptions began and the nation became more conscious of what they were throwing away. Many Americans started thinking the landfills were filled with their "most commonly used items"; fast food containers, disposable diapers, and Styrofoam. Rathje thinks this assumption derives from the fact that these items are often the most colorful and easy to spot. The industrial trash was not correctly accounted for before Rathje's project. According to charts before Rathje the amount of building
material in the land fills was zero.

He started by

published his book he predicted that in the next five years 50 percent of the landfills open at the time would close. He determined this from his findings. In an effort for states to prevent their area becoming a large landfill often states ship their trash to other states. States such as Michigan are taking measures to prevent their state from being the landing spot for the nation's trash.[6] Michigan has found that in the past years most of their rise in trash rates are because of trash imports from Canada
.

Present-day studies

Garbology today is used to assess waste and figure out new ideas for waste management.[7] Edward Humes estimated that the average US citizen produces 102 tons of refuse in their lifetime.[8]

Scientists are currently studying the floating mass of plastic trash in the Pacific Ocean.[9] The scientists study the effect of the trash on the marine life, and how to solve the rising problem. Another current study is the process of changing waste into energy. As both become a rising problem the methane in landfills has the potential to be used to generate small amounts of electricity.[10]

Garbology as an approach has been practiced by various fields like social sciences studies garbology how human have explored waste management and its various other uses while science uses waste management technologies. Different fields of study has explored the study of garbology and its uses.[11] Garbology as an anthropology study has been proved very helpful in exploring the past and discovering ancient sites using the 'litters', telltale domestic items, legible newspapers made their task easier. Household garbage proved to be more helpful and it required a lot of fieldwork and physical labour. Garbology is not mathematics, one needs to dig it, feel it, sort it. to smell it.[12]

Garbology has the potential to teach us more sustainable methods when it comes to managing our waste. Our lack of knowledge has resulted in many

reduce, reuse, and recycle.[14][15] Garbology Kids, a series of books written by Sabbithry Persad focuses primarily on teaching kids lessons about sustainable waste methods by offering useful sources and activities through various social media outlets.[16]

According to Environment America, as of 2021 the United States accounts for 12% of trash produced worldwide while only being made up of 4% of the total population.[17]

Green cities

anaerobic digesters and plasma gasification that would efficiently decompose garbage.[8]
: 250 

Copenhagen, Denmark is the most efficient city in the world with garbage. 3 to 4 percent of the city's waste ends up in landfills. When compared to the 69 percent of the US's average, this is a very small percentage. Trash is largely incinerated and in the process used to generate electricity. Six out of ten Danish homes are heated this way.[8]: 255 

Garbology is also what the community of

Holden Village has called its communal sorting, separating, and disposal of landfill, recycling, and compostable items. Holden hires a full-time "Garbologist" who leads groups of community members in the sorting of the village waste.[citation needed
]

Investigative uses

Another use of garbology is as an investigative

journalists
continue to use it to investigate the stories they produce.

Archaeologists have the availability to use old trash sites as a way to look into history and is helpful when referring to ancient civilizations.[20]

See also

References

  1. New York Times
    . Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  2. ^ "garbology". Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). 1989.
  3. OCLC 56652219
    .
  4. ^ Moynihan, Colin (12 November 2017). "The Answers My Friend, Are Written in This Book". The New York Times.
  5. ASIN B002KE5U9U
    .
  6. ^ "Press | Ecology Center". www.ecocenter.org.
  7. ^ Murashima, Claire (March 22, 2023). "Garbology is the study of trash. This is why students love it". NPR. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Humes, E. (2012) Garbology: Our dirty love affair with trash. Avery, 288 pp.
  9. ^ http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/quick-study-where-our-garbage-goes/article148805.htmlww.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/04/pacific.garbage.patch/ [dead link]
  10. ^ Ball, Jeffrey (May 15, 2009). "Climate Change: Garbage Gets Fresh Look as Source of Energy". The Wall Street Journal.
  11. ^ Garbology. Lulu.com, 2008. 2008. pp. Introduction (I).
  12. ^ William L. Rathje, Cullen Murphy, William, Cullen (2001). Rubbish!: The Archaeology of Garbage. University of Arizona Press, 2001.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. hdl:2429/22870. Archived from the original
    on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  14. ^ Hanna, Arlene (August 2003). "Lessons Learned Through Garbology". The Nebline. 16 (8): 1. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  15. ^ Metro High School. "What are Metro High School Students Doing About Garbage?". Metro High School. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  16. ^ Sabbithry, Persad. "Garbology Kids". Firewater Media Group. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  17. ^ Murashima, Claire (2023). "Garbology is the study of trash. This is why students love it". npr.
  18. ^ SAC (Special Agent in Charge ), Washington Field Office) (1955-01-26). "FOI Request FBI files on Richard Feynman Requested by Michael Morisy on March 12, 2012 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation of United States of America and fulfilled on March 21, 2012". p. 1(323). Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  19. ^ Whitley, Glenna (3 August 2006). "The Cult of Ole". Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Trash Goes to School". 1991.

External links

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