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All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem with Stuff
An ALA Notable Book “The year was 1987 and a ship full of trash was about to become famous…The narrative is immensely readable…A fresh take on a story of old garbage guaranteed to spark conversations and a desire for actions among students. Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal (starred review) A garbage barge that can’t find a place to welcome it sparks a recycling movement in the United States in this smart and smelly picture book from the author of Earmuffs for Everyone.Lowell Harrelson wanted to turn trash into methane gas so he rented a barge called Morbo 4000. His plan was to ship the garbage from New York to North Carolina, but as the barge floated down the coast, no state would let him dock because of smelly waste on board! The barge became a mockery and the butt of many jokes in the media. What started as an attempted business venture turned into quite the predicament for Mr. Harrelson. Mobro 4000 roamed the seas for forty-five days and traveled a distance of 6,000 miles. While awaiting its fate, the trash floated in New York’s harbor, garnering much attention by onlookers. Green Peace activists put up a large banner across the barge that read, “NEXT TIME…TRY RECYCLING.” Even though the garbage barge was a farce, the unintended consequence inspired America to find a new way to deal with its trash.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2018
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183 people want to read
About the author
Meghan Mccarthy
33 books70 followersChildren's book author of many wonderful fiction and nonfiction books for young readers, including the below following. Meghan's books have won the IRA-CBC Children's Choice, ALA Notable, Kirkus Reviews Reviewer's Choice, Booklist Best Books, NYPL 100 Best Books, SLJ Best Books, and so on. Blah blah blah, what Meghan really wants to do is drive really fast and jump in really long grass until she gets grass stains. She'd prefer to remain child-like because children don't have to pay bills.
The Wall Street Journal described Meghan’s art as “goofy yet somehow dignified.” Meghan is much the same way. By the age of 40 she plans to wear a boa at all times and on all occasions.
The Wall Street Journal described Meghan’s art as “goofy yet somehow dignified.” Meghan is much the same way. By the age of 40 she plans to wear a boa at all times and on all occasions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 1, 2018
Fascinating true story presented with charming illustrations. Definitely a book for a class or for older kids who are interested in the environment. As an adult, I had fun looking at the illustrator's renditions of 80s TV figures like Peter Jennings and Phil Donahue.
May 9, 2018
I vaguely remember when this incident happened back in 1987. I didn’t know that the 3,186 tons of garbage on the barge was originally planned for being recycled into energy. Obviously Lowell Harrelson, the mastermind behind this scheme, had his heart in the right place but not all of his ducks in a row. North Carolina, where he planned to take his trash, didn’t want it—and neither did anybody else! Even New York, where it came from, didn’t want it back! Recycling wasn’t nearly as common back then, and I was amazed to learn that much of this trash consisted of what we would recycle today, things like cardboard, clothing, paper, plastic, and metal. I had to applaud Greenpeace for the huge sign they stuck on the garbage barge, which said, “Next time, try recycling.”
There is a bit of monotony to the story, but it was, frankly, monotonous, especially for the crew of the tugboat hauling the barge around, wandering down the coast and back up again, with nowhere to go. McCarthy livens it up with sometimes humorous quotes and reactions from local politicians and others. She provides extra information at the end of the book, with photos of the barge and how the crew aboard the tugboat lived, and especially interesting facts about garbage in general, the garbage that was on the barge, recycling, and ocean garbage. This book was more than just a trip down memory lane for me. It demonstrated how far we’ve come with recycling today, and how, if we don’t keep it up and even increase recycling efforts, we may find ourselves trying to offload our garbage onto somebody else. (Sadly, I think this is actually happening, on a smaller, sneakier scale.). I hope children reading this will take away the same message and be inspired to recycle more. Highly recommended for both young and old.
There is a bit of monotony to the story, but it was, frankly, monotonous, especially for the crew of the tugboat hauling the barge around, wandering down the coast and back up again, with nowhere to go. McCarthy livens it up with sometimes humorous quotes and reactions from local politicians and others. She provides extra information at the end of the book, with photos of the barge and how the crew aboard the tugboat lived, and especially interesting facts about garbage in general, the garbage that was on the barge, recycling, and ocean garbage. This book was more than just a trip down memory lane for me. It demonstrated how far we’ve come with recycling today, and how, if we don’t keep it up and even increase recycling efforts, we may find ourselves trying to offload our garbage onto somebody else. (Sadly, I think this is actually happening, on a smaller, sneakier scale.). I hope children reading this will take away the same message and be inspired to recycle more. Highly recommended for both young and old.
February 27, 2018
Important book as it has an important message about our environment and making conscientious choices. Will be a wonderful read for Earth Day, or a when you're talking about recycling.
My favorite part was all the 80s references :)
My favorite part was all the 80s references :)
April 14, 2021
Author-illustrator Meghan McCarthy brings trash history to life for students in this narrative nonfiction picture book. Using cartoon-like acrylic paint illustrations, McCarthy humorously recounts the true story of the 1987 Garbage Barge that floated in the Atlantic for months and changed the way Americans thought about trash. Back matter includes more facts about the barge, as well as current information about recycling and waste. Project ideas for students to reuse refuse are also pictured. (Grades 2-5).
(Seriously, her 80s references were great. I also listened to an awesome podcast about this.)
(Seriously, her 80s references were great. I also listened to an awesome podcast about this.)
February 24, 2023
This is probably an incredibly boring children's book. (It put my toddler to sleep but that's just a perk really.) So this review is not as a children's picture book and more as a mini graphic novel. I found this story absolutely insane but also very well put together to highlight the complicated nature of waste management. We make a mind-boggling amount of garbage and no one wants it - not us, not our neighbors, not other countries - and that's essentially what this story is about.
October 6, 2025
While this is probably one of the longest children’s books I’ve ever read, it was also probably one of the most interesting. I had no idea that this nonsense happened in the 1980s! Overall, this was a very entertaining read but probably better for kids ages 6 and up. I loved the illustrations, and the message for future generations. Overall, 4/5 stars ⭐️
March 3, 2024
It was a fun book to read, it was also very interesting! It was for reading Olympics, too.
May 11, 2018
This title had a lot of the elements I tend to look for when browsing new nonfiction – a little-known story, a strangely compelling topic, and an author I’ve previously enjoyed. I was fascinated to learn about the garbage-filled barge that left New York in 1987, only to spend the next five months sailing from port to port, denied by five states, Mexico, Belize, and the Bahamas before returning to New York, where the garbage was eventually burned.
However, this book missed the mark in a fewareas. While I appreciated the use of direct quotes within the text, the writing fell flat, with little variance in the sentence structure, giving it a plodding feeling. The author used the phrase “the garbage was not welcome in _____” several times but didn’t quite capitalize on using that as a refrain for young readers. Several layout and design choices also marred the presentation – one spread had a noticeably different font size than the rest of the book, several spreads were busy and confusing to follow, and the backmatter is an extremely dense block of text. The additional information about recycling, garbage, and ocean garbage was interesting and relevant, but visually unappealing.
Ultimately, the most disappointing piece was the ending – the book concluded abruptly with the burning of the trash. I would have preferred another spread or two to tie the story of this garbage barge to the current state of trash disposal and recycling. Lowell Harrelson took the garbage because he wanted to harvest the methane from the decomposing trash to generate electricity. His plan didn’t come to fruition with his infamous ill-fated barge, but methane collection at landfills is now common practice. The striking visual of the 3,186 tons of trash floating on a barge also inspired more Americans to start recycling. Those connections are in the backmatter but I think the text would have been far stronger had that been included as the legacy of the garbage barge.
2.5 stars
However, this book missed the mark in a fewareas. While I appreciated the use of direct quotes within the text, the writing fell flat, with little variance in the sentence structure, giving it a plodding feeling. The author used the phrase “the garbage was not welcome in _____” several times but didn’t quite capitalize on using that as a refrain for young readers. Several layout and design choices also marred the presentation – one spread had a noticeably different font size than the rest of the book, several spreads were busy and confusing to follow, and the backmatter is an extremely dense block of text. The additional information about recycling, garbage, and ocean garbage was interesting and relevant, but visually unappealing.
Ultimately, the most disappointing piece was the ending – the book concluded abruptly with the burning of the trash. I would have preferred another spread or two to tie the story of this garbage barge to the current state of trash disposal and recycling. Lowell Harrelson took the garbage because he wanted to harvest the methane from the decomposing trash to generate electricity. His plan didn’t come to fruition with his infamous ill-fated barge, but methane collection at landfills is now common practice. The striking visual of the 3,186 tons of trash floating on a barge also inspired more Americans to start recycling. Those connections are in the backmatter but I think the text would have been far stronger had that been included as the legacy of the garbage barge.
2.5 stars
May 22, 2020
In the early summer of 1987, Lowell Harrelson, owner of National Waste Contractors in Alabama, heard that a landfill in New York was quickly running out of space. Harrelson thought he had the perfect solution when he decided to take that landfill’s excess trash and move it elsewhere. In its new location, the trash would be allowed to decompose, creating methane gas that could be used to create electricity and power homes. Harrelson rented a barge, hired a tugboat crew to tow the barge, and found a place for the trash in North Carolina. All was falling perfectly into place. But as soon as the barge docked in North Carolina, a local news report prompted further investigation of the trash on board and some medical waste was discovered. Suddenly North Carolina officials were no longer welcoming the trash or Harrelson’s energy plan. The barge was turned away.
Captained by Duffy St. Pierre, the tugboat and barge set off toward Alabama. But Alabama did not have room for the trash and the barge was turned away again. St. Pierre then powered the barge to Mississippi and Louisiana where they were not welcomed. St. Pierre and his first mate, David Soto, were seemingly stuck with over 3,000 tons of stinking trash infested with flies. They tried offloading the trash in Mexico, Belize, and the Bahamas to no avail so the two-man crew turned their sights back to the United States.
Another investigation by federal environmental agents revealed the barge’s load consisted largely of magazines, clothing, old tires, cardboard, and carpet, among other “ordinary” things. Even with nothing toxic on board, Harrelson still struggled to find a permanent home for his trash. After almost two months at sea, the original landfill announced it would take the garbage back. “It’s crazy, isn’t it,” St. Pierre said. “To go through all of this just to return it to the people we took it from.” Of course, returning the garbage to New York did not come without a fight: a temporary restraining order was filed in Queens to prevent the trash from driving through the borough and a court order stopped them from unloading the garbage near Brooklyn. As the barge sat in limbo outside Brooklyn, it drew the attention of tourists and talk show hosts looking to capitalize on the unprecedented fame of a bunch of trash. Greenpeace activists even adorned the barge with a banner saying “Next Time…Try Recycling.”
Three months passed with St. Pierre and Soto being trapped with Harrelson’s garbage when it was finally decided that the trash could be burned. What started as 3,186 tons of waste material, ended its long journey as 400 tons of ash.
Meghan McCarthy has included in the subtitle of her book “Our Problem with Stuff,” underscoring the real crisis at the heart of this 1987 ordeal. When we find our lives and living spaces cluttered with stuff, we simply throw the excess stuff away and it “becomes someone else’s problem.” This was the exact logic that plagued Harrelson’s plan – no one wanted to adopt someone else’s problem, especially on such a large scale. One false assumption of the barge’s contents unleashed a wave of sensational news coverage and over-the-top comments from political leaders. McCarthy takes a deep dive into our stuff problem in the back matter where she includes further information about and photographs of the barge. She also gives the reader some garbage barge, recycling, garbage, and ocean garbage facts. McCarthy concludes the book by suggesting “the best way to save the environment is to reuse!” and she includes photographic examples of some upcycled projects – but the question still remains if these projects just simply delay contribution to our garbage problem and if that delay is enough to solve the problem.
McCarthy delivers a thoroughly researched account of the 1987 barge’s journey. She uses brilliant acrylic paintings to contrast the barge’s truly nonthreatening presence and the drastic response taken by several government agencies. All That Trash will certainly get readers thinking about their contributions to the growing garbage crisis and is sure to prompt discussions of what we can to do help save the environment.
IL: LG BL: 5.0 AR Pts: 0.5 AR Quiz: RP
Captained by Duffy St. Pierre, the tugboat and barge set off toward Alabama. But Alabama did not have room for the trash and the barge was turned away again. St. Pierre then powered the barge to Mississippi and Louisiana where they were not welcomed. St. Pierre and his first mate, David Soto, were seemingly stuck with over 3,000 tons of stinking trash infested with flies. They tried offloading the trash in Mexico, Belize, and the Bahamas to no avail so the two-man crew turned their sights back to the United States.
Another investigation by federal environmental agents revealed the barge’s load consisted largely of magazines, clothing, old tires, cardboard, and carpet, among other “ordinary” things. Even with nothing toxic on board, Harrelson still struggled to find a permanent home for his trash. After almost two months at sea, the original landfill announced it would take the garbage back. “It’s crazy, isn’t it,” St. Pierre said. “To go through all of this just to return it to the people we took it from.” Of course, returning the garbage to New York did not come without a fight: a temporary restraining order was filed in Queens to prevent the trash from driving through the borough and a court order stopped them from unloading the garbage near Brooklyn. As the barge sat in limbo outside Brooklyn, it drew the attention of tourists and talk show hosts looking to capitalize on the unprecedented fame of a bunch of trash. Greenpeace activists even adorned the barge with a banner saying “Next Time…Try Recycling.”
Three months passed with St. Pierre and Soto being trapped with Harrelson’s garbage when it was finally decided that the trash could be burned. What started as 3,186 tons of waste material, ended its long journey as 400 tons of ash.
Meghan McCarthy has included in the subtitle of her book “Our Problem with Stuff,” underscoring the real crisis at the heart of this 1987 ordeal. When we find our lives and living spaces cluttered with stuff, we simply throw the excess stuff away and it “becomes someone else’s problem.” This was the exact logic that plagued Harrelson’s plan – no one wanted to adopt someone else’s problem, especially on such a large scale. One false assumption of the barge’s contents unleashed a wave of sensational news coverage and over-the-top comments from political leaders. McCarthy takes a deep dive into our stuff problem in the back matter where she includes further information about and photographs of the barge. She also gives the reader some garbage barge, recycling, garbage, and ocean garbage facts. McCarthy concludes the book by suggesting “the best way to save the environment is to reuse!” and she includes photographic examples of some upcycled projects – but the question still remains if these projects just simply delay contribution to our garbage problem and if that delay is enough to solve the problem.
McCarthy delivers a thoroughly researched account of the 1987 barge’s journey. She uses brilliant acrylic paintings to contrast the barge’s truly nonthreatening presence and the drastic response taken by several government agencies. All That Trash will certainly get readers thinking about their contributions to the growing garbage crisis and is sure to prompt discussions of what we can to do help save the environment.
IL: LG BL: 5.0 AR Pts: 0.5 AR Quiz: RP
April 13, 2018
In this book, Meghan McCarthy offers a great way to start a study of trash: our trash at home, in the workplace, in public places. It's everywhere! This time, in 1987, it's a story of a New York landfill that was almost out of room to add more trash and a businessman named Lowell Harrelson. He heard about the problem, wanted to help and then rented a barge and a tugboat to tow it in order to fill it with trash to alleviate the landfill's problem. He had a grand design to use the methane gas emitted from the decomposed trash to power a generator, thus to make electricity.
Unfortunately, after traveling five months and being rejected not only by several states, starting with North Carolina, and several Caribbean countries, this journey ended up right back home. It gained popularity during this unrequited voyage - quotes from popular news anchors are given, Greenpeace used it to make a statement. Finally, the blockage of this barge was lifted and piece by piece, the trash was burned, ash deposited. In the 'extra' information, McCarthy tells that small packets of the trash (before burning) were sold as souvenirs and one bale was saved by the Department of Transportation.
There's more to this story in the backmatter along with "garbage barge facts", Recycling Facts, Garbage Facts and Ocean Garbage Facts. Also, there are pictures of creative ways to "re-use" trash plus a selected bibliography.
We certainly do have a lot of stuff!
Unfortunately, after traveling five months and being rejected not only by several states, starting with North Carolina, and several Caribbean countries, this journey ended up right back home. It gained popularity during this unrequited voyage - quotes from popular news anchors are given, Greenpeace used it to make a statement. Finally, the blockage of this barge was lifted and piece by piece, the trash was burned, ash deposited. In the 'extra' information, McCarthy tells that small packets of the trash (before burning) were sold as souvenirs and one bale was saved by the Department of Transportation.
There's more to this story in the backmatter along with "garbage barge facts", Recycling Facts, Garbage Facts and Ocean Garbage Facts. Also, there are pictures of creative ways to "re-use" trash plus a selected bibliography.
We certainly do have a lot of stuff!
June 24, 2018
Meghan McCarthy's trash tale features a man whose ecological solution for the disposal of trash was so innovative, the USA, and Central America couldn't appreciate his ingenious solution. In 1957 Lowell Harrison came up with a plan to rid New York City's almost full landfill. He put the trash on a barge destined for North Carolina. Although the trash was useless in New York's landfill, the garbage could be decomposed, creating methane gas, and finally turned into electrical energy to power our homes. Unfortunately, North Carolina 's reporters stated that the barge contained toxic medical waste, and refused to accept this. McCarthy's magnificent acrylic painted cartoon like illustrations on every page take the reader through the hapless voyage of the garbage barge, "Mobro 4000" and the little tugboat, "Break of Dawn" who faithfully pushed the barge from one unwelcoming harbor to another. It was not welcomed in any port. This is a true story beautifully illustrated and told, yet the message about ways to save the environment, and the factual accounts of what really happened on the Garbage Barge, make it a great read aloud AND a wonderful research tool as well. Highly recommended for all elementary libraries.
August 22, 2018
In 2013 an average American was producing 4.40 pounds of trash per day. The total is 254 million tons of trash. That is a lot. But that’s only America. Actual trash of the world is maybe 5 maybe 7 times more than that. We have lots of problems with trash “All That Trash” is about just one of them. Since humans exist on the Earth they had problems with waste. 30 years ago America had a huge smelly problem “1987 Garbage Barge”. First, it was a national problem but soon it spread like a virus and it became a global problem. This book is great to show what will happen if we keep throwing away and wasting stuff like they will never be a problem. Especially true life stories affect people more. At the end of the book, there are real pictures, an informational text, facts about garbage barge, recycling, garbage, and ocean garbage to help you visualize and understand the problem. Also, the author didn’t forget to put some pictures of creative reused stuff, so you can try some of them. You’ll have fun and save our planet. The illustrations of this book are amazing for a book about disgusting, smelly, and sticky trash.
Let’s all do the 5R’s: REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, & ROT!
Let’s all do the 5R’s: REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, & ROT!
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September 22, 2019Summary: The is a nonfiction book about just what the title says, the 1987 garbage barge. This was trash that started in New York and was hauled all around the east coast until finally returning back to where it came from. This book explains the several attempts for the trash to be disposed of in other areas and the reactions from the people and government officials in those locations.
Evaluation: This book was very interesting because the illustrations had real people with speech bubbles including quotes from those people. The illustrations allow students to learn about government officials and conversations had by them in a kid-friendly way. They took a topic that could normally be very dry to learn about and make it interesting to children through the illustrations and fun language.
Activity: We could use this in social studies while learning about the powers that state and local officials have. We could also use this book to learn about the importance of recycling and why we need to take care of our Earth. This is a very small scale of the problem our world faces with the amount of trash we produce.
Evaluation: This book was very interesting because the illustrations had real people with speech bubbles including quotes from those people. The illustrations allow students to learn about government officials and conversations had by them in a kid-friendly way. They took a topic that could normally be very dry to learn about and make it interesting to children through the illustrations and fun language.
Activity: We could use this in social studies while learning about the powers that state and local officials have. We could also use this book to learn about the importance of recycling and why we need to take care of our Earth. This is a very small scale of the problem our world faces with the amount of trash we produce.
April 14, 2018
McCarthy, Meghan All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem With Stuff. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Simon, 2018. $18. 9781481477529.
In 1987, a waste contractor from Alabama was going to make some money by taking garbage from New York and dumping it in North Carolina. But North Carolina didn’t want the garbage, and neither did the other states he tried – including Alabama – and several countries, for that matter. It took five months of wandering before the garbage on the barge found a permanent home.
You’d like to think that since that time we’ve become better at recycling and disposing of our garbage, but unfortunately that is just not true. The story is pretty complicated, but it would be a great part of any unit on garbage or recycling at any grade level.
EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
In 1987, a waste contractor from Alabama was going to make some money by taking garbage from New York and dumping it in North Carolina. But North Carolina didn’t want the garbage, and neither did the other states he tried – including Alabama – and several countries, for that matter. It took five months of wandering before the garbage on the barge found a permanent home.
You’d like to think that since that time we’ve become better at recycling and disposing of our garbage, but unfortunately that is just not true. The story is pretty complicated, but it would be a great part of any unit on garbage or recycling at any grade level.
EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
September 20, 2019
This book is about the year 1987, that there were tons of trash and there was so many of it that there was no room left to put more. He came up with a plan to convert the trash into energy. The barge was going through multiple states and one day it ended up in Mexico, then it ended up in Florida, and back to New York. Greenpeace activist left a message on the boat that said to recycle next time and a judge ruled for the trash to be burned turning it from 3,186 tons of trash to 400 tons of trash. I like the book because it was kind of funny how it traveled the world just to end up back in NY. I enjoyed the overall lesson of this book which is to recycle. I would use this book to teach students on the importance of recycling and what we can do in our community to recycle and help the environment.
November 3, 2019
This book is all about trash but not just any trash special trash, it’s from New York that nobody else would take. At first the other states were willing to take the trash but after the big ship left the states changed their mind about it being dangerous to the health of the people and wouldn't take it. After this happening for months they ship returned to New York but they wouldn't take the trash back either. What happens to trash that no one will take? I found this book to be good for the information that it was giving. I liked how the information was told in a way that I could relate to. I would use this book in my classroom on Earth Day to to show why we recycle. I can also use this book to teach cause and effect. There are great examples of cause and effect in this book which is why the Trash had to be taken out of New York.
July 3, 2018
I love me some Meghan McCarthy. In 1987 when a New York landfill was filling up, Lowell Harrelson came up with the bright idea to bury it and turn the methane gas given off by the rotting garbage into energy. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. What to do with a barge full of 3000 tons of garbage that NOBODY will accept?
This would make a great book for sharing around Earth Day or talking about the environment, recycling, or responsibility. Who's really responsible for all that trash? Luckily, we started recycling more after 1987, but we are still producing more waste than ever before.
Back matter includes more information about this true event, as well as facts about garbage and recycling and some ideas on how to turn trash into treasures.
This would make a great book for sharing around Earth Day or talking about the environment, recycling, or responsibility. Who's really responsible for all that trash? Luckily, we started recycling more after 1987, but we are still producing more waste than ever before.
Back matter includes more information about this true event, as well as facts about garbage and recycling and some ideas on how to turn trash into treasures.
September 25, 2018
This is the second picture book about the "Garbage Barge" that I've read this year. While I didn't find the illustrations in this one as intriguing as the miniature setpieces of HERE COMES THE GARBAGE BARGE! , ALL THAT TRASH did contain a lot more information on this bizarre debacle.
I did appreciate that the book added a lot of period details regarding the 1987 setting of the story--there are '80s fashions, hairstyles, technology, and toys to be glimpsed. Parents and teachers who were around for the '80s will no doubt enjoy discussing these details with kids.
I think Greenpeace's banner summed it up nicely: NEXT TIME, TRY RECYCLING!
I did appreciate that the book added a lot of period details regarding the 1987 setting of the story--there are '80s fashions, hairstyles, technology, and toys to be glimpsed. Parents and teachers who were around for the '80s will no doubt enjoy discussing these details with kids.
I think Greenpeace's banner summed it up nicely: NEXT TIME, TRY RECYCLING!
April 17, 2021
I love the way Meghan McCarthy presents history to children. This book made me ask, where were the women in 1987? Because in one spread there were 10 portraits of people involved in the story, only one of which was female. Then at another point, I had a moment of implicit bias when I realized Mexico has a navy and it was used in defense against a U.S. entrepreneur. I'm sure if I read this aloud to my students they would question these things. What I really liked though were the math possibilities under the recycling facts in the back, and the huge bibliography. I love to show real citations to my students who are just finding out that they need to start using them.
June 30, 2018
Definitely an interesting story and I really like McCarthy’s style. I thought that there were a few things that could be further explained for young readers. I know that editing is a thing, but I thought that a lot of the back matter was important and interesting enough to have been included in the actual text. Would be a great to pair the book with the actual news clips.
Tags:
Nonfiction
News stories
Amazing true stories
Trash
Garbage barge
United States geography
Recycling
Energy sources
Responsibility
Pass the buck
Ecology
Environmental issues
Earth day
Tags:
Nonfiction
News stories
Amazing true stories
Trash
Garbage barge
United States geography
Recycling
Energy sources
Responsibility
Pass the buck
Ecology
Environmental issues
Earth day
October 2, 2018
This book recounts the journey of a trash barge in 1987. A businessman planned to remove garbage from New York, transport it to North Carolina, and use the decomposition of the garbage to harness methane gas. The barge traveled from state to state, but the states refused to allow the trash to enter. The engaging and clever illustrations in the book added to the story. It was fun to see items from the 80s among the discarded items in the trash. In addition, there are quotes from the barge's crew and well-known figures from the 80s.
February 23, 2019
When a businessman from Alabama has the idea to use trash to produce methane gas for energy, the state of North Carolina eventually caught wind of this idea and rejected the trash -- after it had already been put on a barge from New York. What resulted was a months-long ordeal of a barge full of trash traveling around the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, trying to find a place to put it. A book that shows us that sometimes all the best intentions in the world can result in unintended consequences.
January 26, 2020
What happens when a garbage barges leaves Islip, New York with 3,186 tons of garbage to make energy in North Carolina? McCarthy engagingly describes the months-long odyssey of the Mobro 4000 in 1987 and inspires readers to think about what happens to their trash.
I was drawn to this book because I love Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter. The two complement each other nicely. McCarthy includes a helpful bibliography and information section at the end of the book, but kids will love the drawings!
I was drawn to this book because I love Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter. The two complement each other nicely. McCarthy includes a helpful bibliography and information section at the end of the book, but kids will love the drawings!
October 19, 2018
I really liked this book. It is a subject I knew nothing about. Trash on a barge in 1987. GROSS!
It was funny, it was informative, It makes me want to recycle everything. I will not feel guilty that late at night before pick up day, I dump things in my neighbors, paid recycle service... because it takes glass, and the free drop off service where I live does not! NOPE, thanks for not making me feel guilty because now I really DON'T!
It was funny, it was informative, It makes me want to recycle everything. I will not feel guilty that late at night before pick up day, I dump things in my neighbors, paid recycle service... because it takes glass, and the free drop off service where I live does not! NOPE, thanks for not making me feel guilty because now I really DON'T!
October 13, 2019
A perfect story for a science lesson! The book is very informational and can teach children about the history of garbage and the benefits of recycling for the Earth. Children can learn to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and it can educate students on what to do when they have trash and where it should go and what they should do with it. A great nonfiction story with wonderfully done, hilarious illustrations for children to read and learn from!
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February 13, 2020I really enjoyed this picture book. Lots of fascinating facts. I remember this news story, generally, but I never knew about the methane idea. I liked going more in-depth with it.
My only question is why did Harrelson need NY's unwanted landfill in order to make his methane magic? Could he just (more inexpensively) done the same thing with garbage already AT a landfill (either in NY or NC)? So I was a bit confused on that point.
My only question is why did Harrelson need NY's unwanted landfill in order to make his methane magic? Could he just (more inexpensively) done the same thing with garbage already AT a landfill (either in NY or NC)? So I was a bit confused on that point.
July 19, 2023
I'm very fond of this author -illustrator. I read this book to my elementary age students a few years ago and then again recently so they could remember it. The book is entertaining in how it became a saga of who would agree to take the trash on the barge. The book allows for a lot of discussion: who should take care of the trash we make? What can we do to lessen the amount of trash we create?
March 31, 2018
Summary: The 1987 Garbage Barge story. In a picture book.
Review: So, I kind of liked this book. It could be because I'm a nerd, but most likely it's because it tells a (true) story that is terrible in a comprehendible way. It's not a total downer, but also not the most exciting book. The tone of the book matched the situation in the book.
Review: So, I kind of liked this book. It could be because I'm a nerd, but most likely it's because it tells a (true) story that is terrible in a comprehendible way. It's not a total downer, but also not the most exciting book. The tone of the book matched the situation in the book.
May 7, 2018
I still cannot believe that this actually happened, and that people found it amusing! I can't believe that people actually paid to have a piece of trash. I am so happy that this made people wake-up and really kick-started the recycling movement, I am just astounded that we had to let the situation get that extreme before we did anything about it.
June 20, 2018
Interesting (and almost unbelievable) story about a garbage barge that was exiled from unloading trash from North Carolina to Mexico. A good one to share with children who may have no idea what happens to trash. The endpapers have great information (though the print is very tiny) and there is also a page of projects using recycled materials.
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