Trash has been part of human societies since the beginning. It seems like the inevitable end to the process of making and using things-but why? In this fascinating account of the waste we make, we'll wade into the muck of history and explore present-day innovations to answer these important questions: Why is there so much trash, why are we so bad at handling it, and how can we stop it from ruining the planet? Rebecca Donnelly tackles the extraordinary, the icky, and the everyday, inspiring us all to make a change.