The History Of Wastefulness: Exploring The Modern Problem And Its Solutions

Today's cities are overwhelmed by their own waste. But it hasn't always been this way. The huge amounts of trash are, in part, generated by new package design, which is by definition disposable, and by changed attitudes to consumer goods, which have also shifted towards more disposable goods.

Modern waste disposal systems have been instrumental in making modern cities safe to live and help humanity to battle infectious diseases. But they have also eroded our own awareness of the amount of litter we produce. Once it's out of sight, we don't have to care about it. This BBC podcast takes the listener on that journey. This link is the first episode of a 3-episode long series that examines different models of waste treatment, and the scale of the modern problem.

It is, at the very least, an interesting listen – or maybe an inspiration to waste less, and to learn more about your own city's waste management system.