Think your trash disappears once you roll the bin to the curb? Think again. Spoiler alert: there is no “away.”
In this kickoff to our Dirty Truth About Waste mini-series, we’re diving headfirst into the messy, surprising, and sometimes downright shady world of garbage. From plastics that never die to food waste fueling climate change, fast fashion filling landfills, and the communities carrying the heaviest toxic burdens — we’re unpacking it all.
This episode is your crash course in what’s to come. You’ll get a quick taste of each waste stream we’ll explore in the weeks ahead, plus real-world examples of how everyday people are making a difference through mindful consumption, repair culture, composting, and collective action.
Tune in, and let’s get trashy — in all the right ways.
Works Cited
“Plastic Pollution Is Growing Relentlessly as Waste Management and Recycling Fall Short.” OECD, 22 Feb. 2022, www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2022/02/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.html
“Food Loss and Waste Account for 8–10% of Annual Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cost USD 1 Trillion.” United Nations Climate Change, 29 Sept. 2021, unfccc.int/news/food-loss-and-waste-account-for-8-10-of-annual-global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-cost-usd-1-trillion.
Paritosh, Kumar, et al. “Advances in Waste Management: Treatment Technologies, Energy Recovery, and Circular Economy.” Frontiers in Environmental Science, vol. 9, 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8257395/.
Hoffman, Amy. “The Enormous Opportunity of E-Waste Recycling.” World Economic Forum, 27 Mar. 2023, www.weforum.org/stories/2023/03/the-enormous-opportunity-of-e-waste-recycling/.
“The Problem of Plastic Bags.” Californians Against Waste, www.cawrecycles.org/the-problem-of-plastic-bags.
“Composting at Home.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/composting.
“Civilian Occupations with High Fatal Work Injury Rates.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024, www.bls.gov/charts/census-of-fatal-occupational-injuries/civilian-occupations-with-high-fatal-work-injury-rates.htm.
