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The film “Trashed” by Derek Boonstra was released in 2007. This film follows the life of solid waste, “the story of garbage, American style.” It discusses the political and economic reasons for incinerating and putting trash in landfills and why recycling is not profitable.

America makes up 5% of the world’s population but uses 25% of its resources. There are 10,000 landfills in the U.S. Many of these landfills have leeching problems. This leaks chemicals and other toxins into the ground. Surrounding communities are then exposed to these toxins. This can lead to illness and birth defects.

America has a throwaway society where the amount of garbage a household produces shows its affluence. A family that throws away products and replaces them with the newest version is the envy of the entire street. People are competitive to have the newest and best gadget or product. This has lead to a huge amount of garbage that is still completely useable.

The film goes to a town in Indiana where a super landfill was proposed to be built. The plan outlined the landfill across from an elementary school. The community was outraged. They knew of leeching problems with other landfills and did not want their children exposed to toxins. Disposal companies have now started providing outside water in the towns they have build landfills. Most of these towns are more rural and rely on personal wells for water, but these wells have become contaminated. The city of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada, sends garbage over the border to Michigan. This costs them $37 a ton and the garbage is out of sight, out of mind.

The film introduces you to a group of people living in New York City called “freegans.” These people go to dumpsters where food establishments put their garbage. They rip open the bags and eat all the good food these places are throwing away. They have realized that so many restaurants get rid of food that has not gone bad, and they are taking advantage of this fact.

This film covered a lot of topics, from small town protests to eating food from garbage. The story of trash was well covered, but gave you almost too much to think about at the end of the film. It may have been preferable for the film to go more in depth about fewer topics. The only solution given was to recycle, but through this course we have learned that is not always a great solution either.