If I had to guess, I'd say most of us have only the barest idea of what happens to our garbage. We know that it goes to a landfill but do we really know what that means? Well, if we read this book we do. Donnelly presents the full picture of waste disposal in a clear and concise way with accessible vocabulary. None of this goes into a great deal of depth but each part of the process is presented along with benefits and concerns, both immediate and long term. And it doesn't stop with landfills. We also learn about waste water treatment and recycling. And the impacts explored are environmental, political, racial, and economical. I'd call this a must read for a family trying to better understand their individual impact on the world and the environment.

I’ve read a few books about waste and trash in the last few years. Some focus more on different types of waste and others focus more on activities to do as an individual. I think TOTAL GARBAGE did a great job exploring big questions about trash, including some of the reasons we dispose of trash the way we do today and how it impacts the environment.

One of the ways this book doesn’t pull any punches is in its assessment of why we dispose of waste in the way we do: money. Essentially, even when we know a disposal method is harmful for the environment or inefficient, if it’s cheaper or can be repackaged to the public as something positive, then often a company will choose that waste disposal method. I thought the information about recycling campaigns and waste being shipped overseas were eye-opening and presented in a straightforward manner.

I liked that the book still ends with a hopeful note, and that it does offer ways to help at a personal and community level. All in all, I think this is a powerful, informative book that I hope finds a home on many library shelves and in classrooms everywhere. Readers who enjoyed WHEN THE WORLD RUNS DRY by Nancy Castaldo will definitely want to check out TOTAL GARBAGE.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

What is trash? How much do we produce? What happens to our trash after we throw it in the dumpster or recycling bin? Most importantly, why should we care? This book raises and answers those questions.

In this book, the author examines our consumer culture, the forces behind it, and the effect it's having on our planet. The book is thorough, accessible, and engaging. While it doesn't shy away from hard truths, the tone is empowering and there are concrete suggestions for taking action at the household level and beyond.

I highly, highly recommend this book for middle-grade readers - and their teachers, parents, or caregivers. This is an important topic, and this book would be an excellent starting point for a motivated student (or class or "green team") and an adult facilitator to take meaningful action.

This is an honest examination of what happens to our trash when we throw it away, as well as whether our recycling really does its job. The answers are surprising, and will spur students to action as we think about how much we actually waste. This would be a good book for the whole family to read and make commitments to take action reducing waste.

The author takes a hard look at how we got to this point of consumerism, waste, and waste disposal. The marketing campaign of convenience, fast fashion, and disposable goods has made big money for corporations but has been disastrous for the planet. I highly recommend this book as a school-wide read or a community initiative to encourage large groups of people to work together and reduce waste.

This would be a great book for older elementary or middle school, although younger students would understand most of the book as well.

Who knew there was such a depth and dynamic to trash. I was fascinated by the stories and enjoyed how the author drew the reader in with the little antidotes. The author packed a lot of information in a narrative and friendly manner. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wonders about the use cycle of our things.

Great bite-sized chapters about all things trash. Includes information about what kids can do to help.