Landfills and waste sites reflect societal perceptions of waste and cleanliness. Historically, in states like Massachusetts, landfills are placed in low-cost, low-valued areas. While this is cost-efficient, it often overlooks environmental and health concerns for nearby communities. Additionally, landfills are sometimes located near bodies of water and wetlands, increasing the risk of water contamination. A more modern approach involves sanitary landfills, which use techniques to minimize odors and cover waste with layers of material. The concept of odor is particularly interesting to me because it plays a role in societal discomfort and decision-making. I’ve noticed that many cities choose to export their waste to other cities or even other countries, rather than dealing with it locally. For example, we learned in class that some U.S. cities send waste to parts of Africa, where disposal is cheaper and allows them to avoid dealing with the unpleasant byproducts of waste. This raises important questions, why do we send our trash to certain places? Is it purely out of convenience, or does it reflect deeper hierarchies? I don’t believe there is a correct way of disposing of waste, but it is clear that most techniques come with various harmful side effects. Understanding where our waste goes is crucial, but we should also question why we generate so much waste in the first place. Our class discussions have led me to critique capitalism and consumerism, as they contribute significantly to waste production. Finally, having a meta-perspective is essential because we can take ideas that we normally don’t think about such as landfills and waste sites, and apply that concept to other injustices around the world or more generally allows us to view our daily lives in a critical lens.