99% Invisible

The Monster Under the Sink

6 snips
Mar 19, 2024
Jasper Davidoff, a reporter, dives into the fascinating history of garbage disposals in Jasper, Indiana—a town that once made garbage illegal! He explores how this radical initiative transformed waste management, sparking local debates and new public health strategies. Listeners learn about the implications of the Jasper Plan and how it aimed to improve sanitation while raising concerns over environmental impacts. Davidoff also highlights creative ways to tackle food waste at the source, encouraging mindful consumption and a shift towards innovative waste solutions.
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ANECDOTE

Jasper's Garbage Experiment

  • Reporter Jasper Davidoff visited Jasper, Indiana to interview Jim Tinn.
  • Tinn's father, the former mayor, spearheaded a radical sanitation initiative.
ANECDOTE

Garbage Outlawed

  • In the mid-20th century, Jasper, Indiana banned garbage, making it the first city to do so.
  • This was enabled by a new appliance: the garbage disposer.
INSIGHT

Pre-Consumerism Waste

  • Historically, people produced minimal garbage due to repair and repurposing practices.
  • Food scraps were valuable, used for future meals, animal feed, or making household products.
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