A Close-Up Look at the Waste of Modern Life
A new memoir by a Montreal garbageman shows the actual work of cleaning up the world’s junk.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
BooksA Close-Up Look at the Waste of Modern LifeA new memoir by a Montreal garbageman shows the actual work of cleaning up the world’s junk.By Lily MeyerTobias Nicolai / Connected Archives; Ryan Molnar / Connected ArchivesJune 18, 2026, 7:30 AM ET ShareSave Like many small children, my daughter reveres garbage trucks. In the mornings, she goes to the window and asks, eyes shining, whether today will be a “garbage-truck day.” When she sees or hears one, she reacts with a giddy, half-afraid delight that I imagine she’ll reserve, someday, for roller coasters or getting a body part pierced.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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