Ask people how often they eat organic greens, drink water, or recycle every piece of cardboard, and they will provide you with a narrative that inspires others to adopt similar behaviours. People are generally inclined to present their idealised selves within surveys. To uncover the truth regarding human behaviour, it is best to skip the survey altogether and observe what is discarded in the trash.

Welcome to garbology, the study of modern waste. Archaeologist William Rathje, who is often referred to as the founder of garbology, discovered that while people may lie to pollsters about their personal details, their garbage does not lie.

These findings were also made when comparing the surveys with the actual contents of the household trash.  The surveys indicated that households consumed much more fresh produce and significantly less alcohol than was clear from their trash.  The trash revealed rotting vegetables purchased during healthy eating phases as well as twice as many empty cans of alcoholic beverages as were surveyed. For help with Waste Disposal Norfolk, contact https://www.mgaze.co.uk/

While this study is focused on identifying people who have been caught telling harmless white lies, the study also teaches us about human psychology. Often in surveys of public health and market research, people will report certain behaviours that they aspire to perform rather than their actual behaviours. However, these reports are often contrasted with measurements of the individual’s actual trash records, which reveal the truth about their actual behaviour.

Despite the efforts of urban planners and sociologists to find solutions to the problems of modern society, the study of garbage (garbology) remains one of the most honest reflections of human life. Even years after survey forms are forgotten, the trash that is discarded by people is an indicator of their lifestyle.