TOTAL GARBAGE

A study of trash, past, present, and future.

Brief descriptions of a “trash museum” and a library of discarded books introduce this entertaining but hard-hitting look at what we toss, where it goes, and how we can do better. Focusing throughout on Europe and the Americas, Donnelly misses the chance to compare 19th-century U.S. “waste-pickers” to children picking trash today in India or South Africa. But she produces mounds of data, makes connections to various cultures throughout history, art, and archaeology, and raises crucial questions about environmental values, capitalism and profit motives, and the future. Making the topic personal, Donnelly addresses readers directly. Depressing statistics and sections discussing the consequences of irresponsibly disposing of waste, as well as environmental justice and racism (people of color and impoverished communities are disproportionately affected by issues with garbage), are gloomy, but Donnelly’s clear, engaging writing also lights up the many pages on health, science, and human behavior, on positive actions that families and communities can take, and on industrial responsibility (but none on U.S. government regulatory authority or fossil fuel subsidies). Whimsical, informative, detailed teal-tone line drawings add to a captivating and important book.

A fact-filled and fascinating dumpster dive of a book.