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Title details for Everyone's Trash by Duncan Watson - Available

Everyone's Trash

One Man Against 1.6 Billion Pounds

by Duncan Watson
ebook
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Each day, every single person in the United States, all 324 million, discards about five pounds of waste. Be it a bottle that gets placed in a recycling bin or a piece of paper crumpled and tossed into the waste bin, every bit of the daily 1.6 billion pounds cast-off has a story. This book is full of those stories. It will wake you up and give you hope. As the author, Duncan Watson, says, “More people in American recycle than vote. Recycling is more popular than Democracy!”
Watson has been running the City of Keene’s solid waste program for 33 years. He has brought nation attention to the program for solid waste disposal that Keene, NH, has built. He spins a good yarn, and the rich characters who populate the “dump” in Keene, New Hampshire, provide endless entertainment and a lot of laughs. He is also a yoga teacher, dog lover, and he visits Comic Cons all over the country, as he was a voice actor of Charlie Brown in three movies in his youth; “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown”, “You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown”, and “Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown.”
“By turns hilarious and heartwarming, distressing and hopeful, Everyone’s Trash is about way more than recycling and trash. It's a poignant Xray of a small city's soul—and a testament to the power of connection, compassion, and community.” — Sy Montgomery, NYT Bestselling author, Soul of the Octopus, Of Time and Turtles
“Duncan Watson turned his passion for recycling trash into creating a nationally recognized facility in southwestern New Hampshire. Now he tells his story, filled with unforgettable characters, self-deprecating humor, and a larger message for today. Like one of those unexpected discoveries many of us have picked up on a visit to our own recycling center, Everyone’s Trash is a treasure.” — Dayton Duncan, author, The National Parks: America's Best Idea
“From his first Recycling Center job in California to his Municipal Recycling Facility-MRF- ‘Murph,’ in New Hampshire, Duncan shares the humanity of his life well lived and the intertwined storylines that come alive in every chapter. His skill as a recycling and waste professional is only surpassed by his ability to share heartfelt stories of humanity with his readers. It is the rare author who can be this honest in his narration and every reader will be the richer for the experiences he recounts." — Mike Durfor, Executive Director (Ret.), Northeast Resource Recovery Association

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 15, 2024

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781942155850

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781942155850
      • File size: 3095 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      September 13, 2024

      Watson's goal is to expand readers' collective consciousness; he wants them to think about how they discard everything when they no longer want or need something, whether it's by backyard composting or curbside disposal. He is a lifelong environmentalist with 32 years of experience managing a recycling facility in New Hampshire. His book is half memoir, half explanation of what happens to one's discarded things. He illuminates both the economics and the politics involved in society's current disposal processes. Some chapters tend to jump from topic to topic, and some subjects aren't fully discussed, so those sections may confuse some readers or leave them with many questions. This is offset, however, by solid information, such as a chart of what can be composted in a regular backyard. VERDICT This book usefully illustrates both the history and the current state of waste disposal in the U.S., but some parts are unfocused or seemingly cut short.--Marjorie Mann

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      Starred review from November 1, 2024
      Watson brings his years of experience as solid waste manager and assistant public works director for the city of Keene, New Hampshire, along with his perceptive observations of people, to a fascinating look into the social aspects of the local landfill and the intricacies of waste disposal and recycling. After graduating with a master's degree in resource management, Watson took over the Keene Recycling Center and Landfill, aka the town dump. Over the years, he modernized it and ran the enterprise with an eye to efficiency and economic viability that outstrips many private waste-management businesses. Watson enthusiastically makes the case that "recycling is a positive action that you can take to make a difference." His engaging and heartfelt stories of people he's met through his work add depth and humanity to this portrait of a place that is often taken for granted but that is an absolute necessity and often a social community hub. A sidelight into the author's childhood career as the voice of Charlie Brown in several beloved 1970s Peanuts specials is fascinating. As the world grapples with waste that has taken on a life of its own, this unique insider's look is a must-have for all public libraries.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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