When we get rid of the trash, we rarely give the objects we throw away a second look. The act of checking what is discarded is only done when we do the recycling correct, for example.
However, when we stop to reflect, it becomes clear that the items we discard can offer valuable insights into our lifestyles and habits.
This is why garbology, the study of the waste of different populations, has gained popularity as a legitimate discipline. This unknown field of science is genuine and has become increasingly relevant.
This means that, by analyzing a family’s trash, it will be possible to find answers about the customs they practice.
Garbage disposal demonstrates traces of consumption – Image: Reproduction
What can trash reveal about people?
The term ‘garbology’, which emerged in the 1970s, was initially coined by a writer and activist, later becoming associated with anthropologist William Rathje.
This expression has its origins in the English word ‘garbage’, which means trashand it is the study of residues that reveal valuable information about eating habits.
Although the idea of exploring discarded waste for data may initially seem uninteresting, garbology is actually an established discipline in archaeology.
This field of research offers a unique perspective on modern societies, using remains as a source of valuable information, even if it is an unknown area.
William Rathje and his team led the ‘Tucson Garbage Project’, a study that involved investigating landfills in Tucson, Arizona. In this project, researchers cleaned such areas and extracted waste for analysis.
Therefore, they distributed questionnaires about eating habits and consumption to local residents, comparing the answers obtained with what was found in the participants’ trash cans.
The results revealed, unsurprisingly, that people tend to minimize the amount of unhealthy foods and alcohol they consume.
The finding highlights the discrepancy between the self-declared perception of habits food and the reality evidenced by the waste collected.
Since its origins, garbology has played a crucial role in providing important data for political researchers and historians.
In complex situations where understanding how things work would be challenging, waste analysis offers a unique perspective.
In the 1990s and 2000s, for example, researchers were able to learn about the history of China’s Cultural Revolution by examining waste discarded by local families or public officials.
This revealing method demonstrates how garbology can illuminate historical events and social processes in innovative and enlightening ways.
