The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890-1929

by Patricia Strach, Kathleen S. Sullivan

Genres: History, Nonfiction

246 pages, Hardcover

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's an interesting book to be written on municipal garbage collection in the Progressive Era. Maybe it follows a few particularly corrupt or memorable characters to draw broader lessons about the connection of race, gender, corruption, politicking and governance in the Progressive Era. This isn't that book. This is a political science book.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is (mostly) the history of waste that I've been searching for! Great coverage of how waste collection and disposal developed in the US in late 19th and early 20th centuries. The descriptions surprisingly mirror closely the current problems faced in developing countries across the world. Grateful for the treasure trove of knowledge and history and that someone finally covered this topic.

However, the book suffers from a lot of repetition, skipping back and forth, and frequent distracting focus on race and gender where it seemed irrelevant.

[Mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

very helpful for a paper on the history of municipal trash policy. gives a good run-through on the sanitary reform movement which is fairly overlooked compared to the other reformers of the progressive era. read if you're interested on how trash became politicized away from the sanitarians.

[Mariam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waited around a year for its release, had higher expectations, low-key disappointed. But still good new info.