Waste is often associated with people or things considered of lower value. This connotation exists because of the discomfort and unwantedness attached to trash itself. As mentioned earlier in the semester, dumpsites and landfills are often placed in lower-class areas, where minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status face the direct consequences of living near these sites. Because of these associations, I find it particularly powerful when people reclaim waste as a form of activism or resistance.
One example is the #YouStink movement, where citizens challenged the status quo and revealed that the real “dirty work” happens within the government, not just in lower-income communities. Similarly, last week we discussed how literature can raise awareness. Through Asimov’s story, we see a reflection of society’s absurd behavior, and when we realize how closely it mirrors our reality, it pushes us to question the structures we live under.
We tend to treat waste as something with no value, but many scholars argue that waste holds historical, social, and even economic importance. Therefore, we need to shift our perspective and stop demonizing waste, waste workers, or the communities that handle it. Waste has always been and will continue to be an integral part of society.