Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste

This comprehensive reference work examines the complex relationship between modern society and its discarded materials, offering readers a deep dive into consumption patterns and waste management systems. Through detailed entries on everything from food waste to recycling technologies, the encyclopedia reveals how our trash tells a story about contemporary values, economic systems, and environmental challenges. The book demonstrates that what we throw away provides real-time data about our civilization, much like ancient artifacts reveal secrets about past societies.

What sets this resource apart is its interdisciplinary approach, connecting behavioral science, archaeology, and environmental studies to show how dumpster exploration and waste analysis yield crucial insights into modern culture. Readers interested in sustainability, anthropology, or environmental policy will find particularly valuable the examination of why American households discard hundreds of pounds of edible food annually. This encyclopedia transforms how we perceive our relationship with material goods and their eventual disposal, making visible the hidden systems that shape our consumption habits and environmental impact.