flimsy n.— «“About 70 per cent of urban waste is organic matter that needs to be composted for use as manure,” Mr Mahinda says. The rest of the garbage consists of about 10 per cent plastics of which the hard plastics are recycled...
tissue n.— «The impetus came from Ms. Nagle, who has long been fascinated by the Sanitation Department.…Tissue is “a desk job, an easy job.”» —“Nothing’s Wasted, Especially Garbage” by Edward Rothstein New...
blood money n.— «The impetus came from Ms. Nagle, who has long been fascinated by the Sanitation Department.…Blood money is “overtime for working snow once the novelty has worn off.”» —“Nothing’s Wasted, Especially...
san man n.— «The impetus came from Ms. Nagle, who has long been fascinated by the Sanitation Department.…One of Ms. Nagle’s main concerns is the invisibility of “san men” as they are called, the ways in which people look past...
pay to throw v. phr.— «The most successful curbside programs give residents who recycle a reward—lower garbage rates. With three garbage cans, for example, you pay full fare. With one can of trash and one of recycling, you pay less. Both...
snarge n.— «Snarge…The word is a combination of “snot” and “garbage.”…“It’s what’s left after a bird hits an airplane, goes through an engine. There are no feathers or any other kind of remains of the...