ABSTRACT

Humans generate solid wastes as by-products from all of their activities. Disposing of these solid wastes has become a challenge, especially as population densities have grown. Waste deposits (i.e., garbage dumps) have been associated with human habitation since prehistoric times. For example, the ancient cultures of the East and Gulf coasts of the U.S. left huge piles of shells from marine molluscs they had eaten. Called middens, these piles indicate past settlement patterns. In this regard, one of the most interesting studies on modern solid wastes has been conducted from the perspective of the archaeologist (Rathje and Murphy, 1992a, 1992b; Rathje and Psihoyos, 1991). This was the “Garbage Project” which spanned more than two decades at the University of Arizona. Its approach was to view solid waste as a reflection of the material culture of modern society, in the same way that archeologists have studied past civilizations.