Waste rebellions are acts of resistance that make use of the actual reality of discarded items to challenge oppressive systems and question the dominant social order. Understanding that waste streams often reflect and worsen existing social inequalities, these acts turn trash from something we overlook into something that actively creates change. Think about the example of communities banding together to fight against the dumping of dangerous waste in their local area: the existence of that unwanted pollution motivates people to work together and call for environmental justice and accountability. Likewise, the increasing focus on food waste and the work being done to recover and redistribute food that was thrown away but is still safe to eat challenges the flaws and moral issues within our food systems, actively opposing the typical behaviors of a “throwaway culture.” These forms of resistance demonstrate the ability for the marginalized to use the materials that dominant society considers useless as instruments for bringing about social change. By finding new uses for thrown-away items or deliberately interfering with waste management systems, these actions push back against capitalism’s central ideas of constant consumption and planned obsolescence. Moreover, holding companies responsible for their waste production and disposal challenges the structures that allow environmental harm and social injustice to persist. These acts of resistance can promote a sense of solidarity and community among the people participating, which can lead to the creation of supportive networks and a shared commitment to addressing systemic problems. Waste rebellions force us to rethink what we throw away and why. In particular, they show us how waste is never only waste: it is a manifestation of the disparities and power dynamics that influence our society. By reclaiming discarded materials as tools of resistance, these actions reveal how the things we consider disposable can become catalysts for change.