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((short description|Study of modern refuse))
((About|the study of modern refuse|the study of ancient refuse|Midden|the Aesop Rock and Blockhead album|Garbology (album)))
'''Garbology''' is the study of modern refuse and [[Waste|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 [[fossil]]ized or otherwise time-modified trash preserved in [[midden]]s is quite often the only remnant of ancient populations that can be found. For those who did not leave [[building]]s, [[writing]], [[tomb]]s, [[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 [[plant]]s, 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.<ref>((cite news |first= Witold|last= Rybczynski|title=We Are What We Throw Away  |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DA163CF936A35754C0A964958260&n=Top/Features/Books/Book%20Reviews&scp=1&sq=garbage%20dump%20archaeology&st=cse |quote=Since 1973, a group of anthropologists at the University of Arizona has been conducting a series of systematic archeological digs, minutely sifting, classifying and recording the contents of more than 14 tons of excavated material. The site of their investigation, however, has not been ancient burial grounds or prehistoric settlements, but urban landfills -- in other words, garbage dumps. |work=[[New York Times]] |date=July 5, 1992 |accessdate=2009-01-23 ))</ref>

''Garbology'' is also used as an overtechnical term for [[waste management]], with refuse workers called ''garbologists'', first seen in Australia in the 1960s.<ref>((cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=[[Oxford English Dictionary]] |title=garbology |edition=2nd |year=1989))</ref><ref>((cite book |author=Scanlan, John A. |title=On garbage |publisher=Reaktion Books |location=London |year=2005 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ramkfpqq9dIC 196] |isbn=1-86189-222-5 |oclc=56652219))</ref>

== History ==
===Early work at University of Arizona===
((More citations needed section|date=April 2013))

A. J. Weberman invented the word garbology in 1971 when he went through Bob Dylan's trash.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/nyregion/the-answers-my-friend-are-written-in-this-book.html|title=The Answers My Friend, Are Written in This Book|first=Colin|last=Moynihan|newspaper=The New York Times|date=12 November 2017))</ref> William Rathje's start of his ecologically oriented garbology [[excavations]] began in 1987.<ref>((cite news |first=William |last=Rathje |author2=Cullen Murphy  |title=Archeology of Garbology  |asin=B002KE5U9U))</ref> Rathje was hoping to find more information regarding what the landfills contained as well as to examine how garbage reacts in its [[Environment (biophysical)|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 [[United States|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 [[surveying]] different areas of the country to better understand what types of garbage survives under different [[climates]]. He found there was little difference between the sites because the garbage is compacted. The California landfills did have less paper than those in Illinois. [[Recycling]] is thought to be the cause of the paper difference between states. Rathje's research uncovered some other misconceptions about [[landfill]]s. In particular, it was revealed that the rate of natural [[biodegradation]] is far slower than had been assumed (e.g., in capacity planning). It was found that the plastic bottles that were crushed at the top were able to be re-inflated easier than those that were at the bottom because of a new system of bottle making called light-weighting. This is the process of using less plastic in bottles to conserve material and save money. Light-weighting is not limited to plastic alone; this process is used for aluminum and paper as well. Rathje also found that Americans were wrong about what they thought they threw away most. When combined, the three most infamous types of trash—diapers, fast food containers, and Styrofoam—amounted to less than three percent of the landfill's waste. Rathje found that [[plastic]] was 20-24% of waste and [[paper]] alone was 40 percent of the waste found in landfills. Thirteen percent of this paper waste was from [[newspapers]]. Rathje states the irony of this fact in his book. He talks about how newspapers are usually the ones that report things such as waste and [[pollution]] and it is these same newspapers clogging the landfills. Rathje discusses the rate of closing landfills and how for every six small landfills closed one large landfill opens. At the time he [[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.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.ecocenter.org/press/releases/20040203.php|title=Press &#124; Ecology Center|website=www.ecocenter.org))</ref> 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.<ref>((cite news |last1=Murashima |first1=Claire |title=Garbology is the study of trash. This is why students love it |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/22/1160896402/garbology-is-the-study-of-trash-this-is-why-students-love-it |access-date=25 March 2023 |work=[[NPR]] |date=March 22, 2023))</ref> Edward Humes estimated that the average US citizen produces 102 tons of refuse in their lifetime.<ref name="Humes">Humes, E. (2012) Garbology: Our dirty love affair with trash. Avery, 288 pp.</ref>

Scientists are currently studying the floating mass of plastic trash in the [[Pacific Ocean]].<ref>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|date=February 2022))</ref> 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]].<ref>((cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124233937494621157 | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | title=Climate Change: Garbage Gets Fresh Look as Source of Energy | first=Jeffrey | last=Ball | date=May 15, 2009))</ref>

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.<ref>((Cite book|title=Garbology|publisher=Lulu.com, 2008|year=2008|pages=Introduction (I)))</ref> 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.<ref>((Cite book|last=William L. Rathje, Cullen Murphy|first=William, Cullen|title=Rubbish!: The Archaeology of Garbage|publisher=University of Arizona Press, 2001|year=2001))</ref>

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 [[recyclable]] items being thrown out on a daily basis.<ref>((cite report|last=Molander|first=Stephanie|author2=Lenihan, Jessica|title=Ways to Waste: The Garbology of Post Consumer Refuse in the UBC Okanagan Cafeteria |date=April 2007 |pages=22–23|hdl=2429/22870 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2429/22870
 |accessdate=March 12, 2012| archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211549/https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/22870/Garbology%20of%20Post-consumer%20Refuse_2.pdf?sequence=1|url-status=dead))</ref> In response, many schools have incorporated garbology into the [[curriculum]], with general focus on the three concepts of [[Reduce, Reuse, Recycle|reduce, reuse, and recycle]].<ref name="Hanna 2003 1">((cite journal|last=Hanna|first=Arlene|title=Lessons Learned Through Garbology|journal=The Nebline|date=August 2003|volume=16|issue=8|pages=1|url=http://m.today.duke.edu/2011/04/garbology|accessdate=February 29, 2012))</ref><ref>((cite web|last=Metro High School|title=What are Metro High School Students Doing About Garbage?|url=http://www.pastfoundation.org/2006Garbology/|publisher=Metro High School|accessdate=March 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222041100/http://www.pastfoundation.org/2006Garbology/|archive-date=February 22, 2012|url-status=dead))</ref> ''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.<ref>((cite web|last=Sabbithry|first=Persad|title=Garbology Kids|url=http://garbologykids.com/|publisher=Firewater Media Group|accessdate=March 17, 2012))</ref>

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.<ref>((Cite web |last=Murashima |first=Claire |date=2023 |title=Garbology is the study of trash. This is why students love it |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/22/1160896402/garbology-is-the-study-of-trash-this-is-why-students-love-it |website=npr))</ref>

===Green cities===
[[Portland, Oregon]] consistently rates at the top of every list of sustainability, green buildings, recycling rates, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and eco businesses. Portland is considering implementing [[anaerobic digesters]] and [[plasma gasification]] that would efficiently decompose garbage.<ref name="Humes"/>((rp|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.<ref name="Humes"/>((rp|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.((cn|date=March 2023))

===Investigative uses===
Another use of garbology is as an investigative [[tool of law enforcement]], [[corporate espionage]], or other types of investigations. This not only includes physical sorting of papers from a rubbish bin but also analysis of files found in a computer's [[recycle bin]]. The FBI ran "trash covers" against various organizations deemed subversive in the early 1950s.<ref>((cite web|author=SAC (Special Agent in Charge ), Washington Field Office)|url=http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/366921-responsive-documents.html#p323|title=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|quote=Through means of a trash cover on the Press Department of the Soviet Embassy [...] on 1/13/55 found a penciled rough draft letter|date=1955-01-26|accessdate=2012-06-08|page=1(323)))</ref> The [[Trinity Foundation (Dallas)|Trinity Foundation]] used such measures to demonstrate that the organization of the crooked televangelist [[Robert Tilton]] discarded prayer requests it received after removing the money inside.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/288193/|title=The Cult of Ole|first=Glenna|last=Whitley|date=3 August 2006|access-date=27 January 2012|archive-date=17 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617081800/http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/288193/|url-status=dead))</ref> In some countries garbology is illegal unless it is being used by the country's intelligence services. However [[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.<ref>((Cite web |date=1991 |title=Trash Goes to School |url=https://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/TrashGoesToSchool/Garbology.html))</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dump digging]]
* [[Dumpster diving]]
* [[Freeganism]]
* [[Historical digging]]
* [[Rescue archaeology]], an archaeological survey and excavation carried out in areas threatened by construction or development

==References==
((Reflist))

==External links==
*[https://www.npr.org/2012/04/26/150735732/following-garbages-long-journey-around-the-earth "Following Garbage's Long Journey Around The Earth"], radio interview with Edward Humes on ''[[Fresh Air]]'' (31 mins; 2012)
* William Rathje interview on the Television Program Creativity with Bill Moyers (available on YouTube).

[[Category:Waste management]]
[[Category:Historical archaeology]]

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