Discard Studies International

Waste and its permutations have attracted observers of many stripes — scholars, activists, artists, and more. This list is worth exploring to learn about some of the variety and color that the field has created.

In memorium: Sanitation Worker Frank Justich

This is a particularly relevant day to found a blog dedicated to the study of discards. It’s the day after the funeral of New York City Sanitation Worker Frank Justich, killed in the line of duty last Tuesday, January 26, in Queens. He and his partner were working their route when Frank was hit by a truck. He leaves behind his wife, two small daughters, his mother, his co-workers, and the people whom he served out of the Queens 1 garage.

Here’s a little known fact: according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is more dangerous to be a sanitation worker than to be a cop or a firefighter. I say this with no disrespect for police officers or firefighters. But why does a uniformed force that is absolutely fundamental to the city’s well-being and that suffers more on-the-job injuries and on-the-job fatalities than the other uniformed forces earn far less press when such tragedies occur? Some of the TV coverage of the funeral was excellent, but there wasn’t much of it.

Mr. Justich, this blog and its goal — to help raise awareness of the true costs of our habits of discard, in all their many forms — is dedicated to you and to the many other sanitation workers who lost their lives while serving their city.