It is a major source of information on the nature and changing patterns in modern refuse, and thereby, human society.
The studies of garbology and archaeology often overlap, because fossilized or otherwise time-modified trash preserved in middens is quite often the only remnant of ancient populations that can be found.
For those who did not leave buildings, writing, tombs, trade goods, or pottery, refuse and trash are likely to be the only possible sources of information.
In addition, ancient garbage sometimes contains information available in no other way, such as food remains, pollen traces of then local plants, and broken tools.
[1] Garbology is also used as an overtechnical term for waste management, with refuse workers called garbologists, first seen in Australia in the 1960s.
[5] Rathje was hoping to find more information regarding what the landfills contained as well as to examine how garbage reacts in its environment.
Many Americans started thinking the landfills were filled with their "most commonly used items"; fast food containers, disposable diapers, and Styrofoam.
[11] Garbology as an anthropology study has been proved very helpful in exploring the past and discovering ancient sites using the 'litters', telltale domestic items, legible newspapers made their task easier.
[13] In response, many schools have incorporated garbology into the curriculum, with general focus on the three concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
[16] According to Environment America, as of 2021 the United States accounts for 12% of trash produced worldwide while only being made up of 4% of the total population.
[8]: 255 Garbology is also what the community of Holden Village has called its communal sorting, separating, and disposal of landfill, recycling, and compostable items.
Holden hires a full-time "Garbologist" who leads groups of community members in the sorting of the village waste.
[18] The Trinity Foundation used such measures to demonstrate that the organization of the crooked televangelist Robert Tilton discarded prayer requests it received after removing the money inside.
Archaeologists have the availability to use old trash sites as a way to look into history and is helpful when referring to ancient civilizations.