Description of Findings

During my garbage analysis event, I requested one of my close friends to speak to her family so that I can be allowed to use their garbage in my study. Luckily, I was allowed to do so and without wasting time I accompanied my friend to her home. On arrival, she showed where they disposed their household waste, and I proceeded to the place right away. The garbage was piled in a pit approximately 2 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. Since it was almost full, I found an easier time observing all the garbage that had been disposed there lately.

The waste on top looked fresh, and I concluded that it had been disposed there two to three days before. Among the wastes were food remains which included rice, bread, donuts, and bones which I guessed were remains of chicken meat and beef. The food remains were in large amounts. Besides, there were two large bottles of champagne. Apart from the foodstuff remains, I noticed remains of hair and braids. The hair remains were a bit long and scattered all over. They were black in color. Also, there were scattered bottles all over the place. On taking a close look, I noticed that the bottles that contained female beauty makeups. Furthermore, I noticed some cut fingernails which I guessed were from the fingers of a lady since they had some reddish paint.

I went further to observe and read the information that appeared on the scattered boxes and papers. Some had handwritten information reading ‘Congratulations,’‘All the Best’, and ‘Live Well’ and so on. Lastly, there were plenty of remains of blue, green, red, and purple flowers thrown all over the pit. Used balloons also in different colors accompanied the scattered flowers.

Analysis of Findings

After observing and noting down all garbage disposed in the pit, I had to vividly analyze to come to a final understanding of what might have occurred to result in such plenty of garbage. The presence of female equipment such as hair braids, beauty makeup containers, and even scattered reward boxes made me conclude that the garbage might have been caused by female individuals. Also, remains of delicacies and bottles of champagne showed that the garbage might have resulted from a party which involved eating and drinking. Besides, the plenty of food remains scattered amounts shows that food was in plenty and those who were around ate maximally such that the only option reaming was to throw it away. Two large bottles show that the throwers liked parting and drinking a lot.

In brief, there might have occurred a party in the household which composed of mainly ladies. The presence of boxes bearing phrases such as ‘Congratulations shows that gifts were given a specific person in the households. Also, remains of cut nails, beauty makeup containers, and hair braids made me stay convinced that the person who held the party was a woman and so she had to prepare herself adequately before meeting her guests. Scattered followers and balloons with shining colors such as red, blue, and purple could as well mean that the occasion was full of joy and so flowers and balloons had been used to decorate the place. Could it have been a wedding or graduation party? I guessed between these two events because they are the most celebrated, and they all involve the generation of much garbage due to the much dishing and the gifts brought.

Interviewing of Garbage Throwers

            After collecting all the information about the garbage, I presented to my friend who was also part of the household which owned the garbage. I gave her time to go my analysis of the garbage so that she can rate it with the event that had occurred in the household. The respondent agreed that the garbage was fresh since it had been thrown there in the past two days. However, some wastes such as hair braids, remains of cut fingernails, and bottles of beauty makeups had been thrown there a week before. There had been preparations for a pre-wedding whereby a female member of the household was getting married in two months is time. Therefore, she had begun her preparations earlier by making up her hair so that she can look presentable before the incoming guests. She bought the hair braids which she used to make her hair up. After making her hair up, she threw the braid and hair remains in the pit, and that is while they were among the garbage.

Concerning my assumptions that the event was majorly composed of female participants, the respondent said that all people were invited included men and children. Food had been cooked in plenty since the exact number of visitors was not known. Thus, a lot of it remained, and it was thrown in the pit. She hinted that the food remains composed of chicken, beef, and other snacks which had been availed in plenty thatday. More so, she informed me that the flowers and balloons were bought to decorate the household and even some were used to decorate the vehicles that brought the visitors. After the event, they were all cleared off and disposed in the garbage bit. During the event, gifts were given to the lady who was about to wed. However, she did not open them until the next day. Therefore, the garbage remains composing of reward boxes had been deposited only a day ago, unlike the other garbage.

Comparison between My Analysis and the Garbage Thrower’s Depiction

            After relating my assumptions with the garbage thrower’s views, I realized that there were slight differences. In Garbology, there are those types of garbage which can be easily rated to the time that they were thrown in the garbage pit (Schiffer, 2015). For example, one can just estimate the length of stay of food remains in the pit. Thus, it was easier for me to assume that the food remains had been disposed there not more than two days ago. However, other forms of garbage are hard to determine their disposal date. This may include those that are not biodegradable. For example, I could not tell the exact day when the hair braids and the used flowers and balloons were disposed there since some were made from nylon.

Besides, my assumption that the source of garbage had been due to a party was right because it is culturally known that parties are accompanied by flowers, delicious foods, and drinking champagne among other activities. Therefore, the presence of the material mentioned above in the garbage directed my thinking to make the right assumptions.

Reference

Schiffer, M. (2015). William L. Rathje, Father of Garbology. Arizona Anthropologist, 25, 78-86.

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