Editor’s Note: 2020’s Been a Garbage Year, We’re Here to Talk Trash

You’re probably wondering whether Talking Trash is just another corporate PR mechanism for selling “the world’s classiest trash can” (The Hustle). Why else would a trash can company create a blog if not to force its product down people’s throats?

This question is e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. And we’re thrilled to answer it.

Talking trash can be gratifying in and of itself, but driven by a vision for clean, healthy, and sustainable environments, it transcends both pleasure and profit. Said another way, Talking Trash is a purpose-driven initiative fueled by Petal’s social impact vision: clean, healthy, and sustainable environments for all.

By shedding light on how waste management affects people and the planet, we hope to bring attention to public health crises like those currently faced by refugees on the Greek Island of Lesbos, where lack of running water and flushable toilets make basic hygiene impossible and the spread of Covid likely.

For Refugees on a Greek Island, Basic Human Hygiene is “Just Impossible”

Current systems of waste management are outdated and ineffective the world over, particularly in communities impacted by war, natural disasters, inadequate infrastructure, and overpopulation. Talking Trash will shine a light on waste management’s people and processes with the hope of developing sustainable solutions to challenges in these regions and beyond.

Instead of conventional blog commentary, Talking Trash will be heavily weighted towards original news gathering and methods for action that you can take towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

Petal was invented by two aerospace engineers who were sick of the icky nuisances of waste disposal, chief among them: rot, stink, germs, fruit flies, and garbage juice. But beyond its residential convenience value, Petal has the potential to advance critically important public health and sustainability practices such as composting and the safe disposal of medical waste.

That’s not to say that Petal is the solution for all ills. It’s one small solution that can contribute to the advance of larger public health and sustainability initiatives. We’re under no illusions.

Large-scale change can only happen through determined international cooperation and public-private collaboration, something our editors have experience with.

Karam on assignment for The New York Times in Aleppo, Syria (2013).

Karam Shoumali is a Syrian journalist and researcher currently in asylum in Germany. He served as a war correspondent on the Turkish-Syrian border and played a major role in The New York Times’ coverage of the Syrian war and its resulting refugee crisis in Europe and Germany. In 2016, he was part of a team nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting. He is the co-creator of Branch-251, a podcast covering the world’s first criminal trial dealing with atrocity crimes committed by Syrian officials: the Al-Khatib Trial in Koblenz, Germany.

Christie on assignment with Mr. Boots, leading man in Sick of Ick’s inaugural comic

Christie Zwahlen is Co-founder and EVP of Social Impact at Petal and a civic engagement professional who has spent almost a decade spearheading change across academia and the public sector. She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA from 2010–2012, creating partnerships and programs to address technology access and STEM education in underserved communities. As Director of Community Engagement and Service at Miami University, she led efforts to increase student and faculty political engagement and public service.

So, what unites Karam and Christie, aside from the fact that they’re officially BFFs according to their Instagram profiles? Three things mainly:1) lack of appropriate friendship boundaries (we talk trash to each other non-stop); 2) passion for justice and human rights; 3) humor as a tool for overcoming life’s garbage.

When and Where I Enter the Rubbish System We’re All Part Of

We have both experienced enough pain to know that it’s your mindset, not your circumstances, that dictate your capacity for joy. We laugh together through hardship to remind ourselves that, as Jon Kabat-Zinn says, “as long as you are still breathing, there’s more right with you than wrong, no matter what’s wrong.”

Thus, to ensure that Talking Trash doesn’t fill your blog feed with too much doom and gloom, we’ll also be posting humorous accounts of people’s experiences with trash, something we’re calling Sick of Ick! — a comic-style series filled with user-generated content about life’s literal garbage.

What happens when you leave your dog alone with a trash can full of garbage? Stay tuned to find out.

Ever forget to take the trash out before a camping trip only to find your kitchen crawling with maggots upon your return? Same. We want to hear about your icky experiences with trash. We also welcome guest writers on our blog. If you have a story that sheds light on waste management’s people or practices, please drop us a line at talkingtrash@petalclean.com.

2020 has been a garbage year, which means we’ve got a lot of trash talking to do. We hope you’ll stay tuned as we uncover issues around the world that require collaborative problem solving and humor to overcome.

At Talking Trash, we’ve got beef with rot, stink, and germs.

This is our diss track.

Christie & Karam
Co-Editors

Christie, Karam, and Habibi at the Berlin Wall.