garbology
Study of trash
Garbology is the study of garbage—what people throw away and what it reveals about their habits, consumption patterns, and culture.
The term emerged from archaeological methods applied to modern refuse.
Garbologists analyze trash to understand societies, whether excavating ancient middens or sifting through contemporary landfills: Garbology research showed people underreport their alcohol consumption.
Waste burial ground
- trashDiscarded worthless material
- refuseReject or garbage
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- litterScattered waste or debris
rubbish · detritus · discards · scraps · leftovers · dump · junk · compost
Study of physical remnants
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
- TucsonSouthern Arizona city
- publicationsWorks issued to readers
Act of unearthing
- sortingArranging into sequence
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- samplingExtracting subset for study
stratigraphy · cataloging · classification · research · documentation
Using up of resources
- behaviorManner of conducting oneself
- dietCustomary food consumption
- socioeconomicRelating to income and status
landfill
Waste burial ground
litter · rubbish · detritus · discards · scraps · leftovers · dump · junk · compost · biodegradable
archaeology
Study of physical remnants
- anthropologyStudy of human cultures
- ethnographySystematic study of peoples
- TucsonSouthern Arizona city
excavation
Act of unearthing
- sortingArranging into sequence
- surveyingMeasuring and charting terrain
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
sampling · stratigraphy · cataloging · classification · research · documentation
consumption
Using up of resources
- behaviorManner of conducting oneself
- dietCustomary food consumption
- socioeconomicRelating to income and status
garbologymuseology
Study of museum practices
treasure hunting · connoisseurship · art history · numismatics · philately