Global Garbage

Waste and Consumer Choice

by Carrie D'Aprix and Leila Shirian

This episode investigates tensions in thinking about waste; those between consumer choice and production practices. Perspectives from a sustainably-minded consumer and a Political Sociologist provide lenses for exploring how privilege influences consumer decision-making: Who is forced to think about change? Are there alternatives to our current capitalist production? Join Carrie D’Aprix and Leila Shirian in unpacking these complex questions.

Trouble in Paradise

by Amanda Sudilovsky, Aislinn Slaugenhaupt, Kalena Bonnier-Cirone, and Malama Toure

In their podcast, Trouble in Paradise, four Cornell undergraduate students in the DSOC 2030 course, Global Garbage, investigate the issue of waste in their local community. In their backyard of Ithaca lies the home of the only uncapped, untreated toxic landfill in New York State which doubles as the site of the only mobile home park in Ithaca. This podcast investigates issues of environmental justice, who is affected by waste, the state of the landfill/residence now, and differential outcomes for communities with different resources. The podcast is hosted by Amanda Sudilovsky, Aislinn Slaugenhaupt, Kalena Bonnier-Cirone, and Malama Toure.

Talking Shit

by Brian Caine, Kevin Laird, Anita Tendler, and Milo Vella

This podcast is about breaking the uncomfortable barrier of talking about our human waste. Our intention is to communicate the commonly overlooked information about what happens to what we flush away and how we can improve the process. We interview the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility’s Pre-treatment Coordinator, Ed Gottlieb, and argue that we must stop treating poop as a taboo subject – our society produces a whole lot of it, and must work to manage it more sustainably. Our message is aimed at the local Tompkins County community (including but not limited to students).

Severed by a Sword

by Caroline Sheridan, Katherine Warner, Swati Rath and Zoë Loomis

In 2018, China implemented the National Sword Policy, banning the importation of many types of plastic and strictly prohibiting contaminated plastic. Severed by a Sword discusses the impact of this policy, both environmental and economic. This episode features interviews that focus on the national consequences of the plastic buildup and the local effects that the ban has on Ithaca.

For here or to go?

by Alyssa Anderson, Jamie Anderluh, Solina Kennedy and Zoe Friedberg

For Here or to Go looks at the impact of the disposable coffee cup. We explore the history of disposability, the “to go” culture on Cornell’s campus, and investigate the phenomenon in practice at

Temple of Zeus café.

Convenience Culture

by Sheryl Lim, Stevanica Augustine, Teresa Suh and Xuelin Hong

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Waste Flows

by Emma Railey, Cassidy Graham, Jessica Wan and Johanna Gertin

Periods. Half of the human population deals with them, yet in most societies, they are considered too taboo for conversation. If you combine menstrual cycles with another controversial topic–waste–the result is an issue that people really don’t want to talk about: the unsustainability of disposable feminine hygiene products. In this episode, we will delve into the the history of these products, common ingredients in traditional pads and tampons, potential human and environmental health effects, and ways to combat the double taboo of periods and waste with sustainable products.

Bottle Mania

by Elena Petkova, Devon Davis, Micah Benoit and Nils Nordström

This podcast, Bottle Mania looks to tackle the big questions of just why do people use plastic water bottles, where did they come from and what can we do about them? This began with a question from one of the members from Sweden who was surprised to see how widely consumed plastic water bottles are here in the U.S. and at Cornell. As environmental science majors, the other three members had similars concerns about the wide usage of plastic water bottles. Together they decided to attain some answers by conducting an investigation regarding why plastic water bottles are so widely used specifically here on campus.