Synopsis
"... a fascinating look into the social aspects of the local landfill and the intricacies of waste disposal and recycling. 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." ― Booklist
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 America 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 national 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
About the Author
AUTHOR DUNCAN WATSON began his personal trash journey in his pre-teens as an attendant at a small municipal recycling center in Northern California. After a brief stint as a child voice actor for Charlie Brown, he spent several years wandering the desert looking for a better paying gig. He ended up in New Hampshire and has spent the last 32 years (and counting) working for the City of Keene Public Works Department, including running the City’s solid waste program. Always a storyteller, he continues to explore the possibility of transforming the dump culture to provide a vision of something bigger, something worthy. Duncan has an MS in Resource Management from Antioch New England University.
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