Connect with us

People & Blogs

How Trash Goes From Garbage Cans to Landfills (Every Step Explained) | WIRED

Every day New York City picks up 12,000 tons of refuse and recycling. How does all this trash go from the garbage can to its final destination? Former New York City Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson is here to explain. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► Want…

Published

on

Every day New York City picks up 12,000 tons of refuse and recycling. How does all this trash go from the garbage can to its final destination? Former New York City Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson is here to explain.

Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►►
Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►►
Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►►

Follow WIRED:

Instagram ►►
Twitter ►►
Facebook ►►

Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.

ABOUT WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
52 Comments

52 Comments

  1. Troll

    May 23, 2022 at 4:02 pm

    bruh

  2. LeBeautiful

    May 23, 2022 at 4:02 pm

    That is insane

  3. Matthew Bell

    May 23, 2022 at 4:06 pm

    Thank goodness for hardworking men like this who quietly perform their duties to keep our society running. What a champion.

  4. Eyal Buzer

    May 23, 2022 at 4:06 pm

    Hi

  5. Suzie Q

    May 23, 2022 at 4:16 pm

    🌻🇺🇦🇺🇲

  6. Abell Seyfu

    May 23, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    Narrative of Self is the result of a feedback loop between “Separate Self” & Cosmos 🟥

  7. barnabe adriaens

    May 23, 2022 at 4:20 pm

    ed grayson, could use a bit more excercise and reduce his caloric intake…yes yes yes

    • Kylirr

      May 23, 2022 at 7:25 pm

      Ok

  8. Hilltop Gypsy

    May 23, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    What a HORRIBLE WASTE! NYC used to have citywide recycling, but the geniuses running the show decided to cancel it. What a HORRIBLE WASTE! This cannot go on!

  9. Parker

    May 23, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    These days everyone is believing that recycling is a total scam. I still think it’s worth it to recycle but I am feeling like a minority with people looking at me like I am a multi-level marketer or something. Most recently I saw this view on The Problem with John Stewart show but that is not the first(or the second) time I have heard that message. People seem to think that because only a small percentage of total plastics is recycled we should not participate in any curbside recycling at all.

    • Forest Green

      May 24, 2022 at 12:46 am

      Reduce, reuse, recycle. Also recycling paper and metals still effective even if with plastic there could be minimal benefits.

  10. Kimberly G.

    May 23, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    Reducing single-use is also a way to help.
    For example: that coffee cup. If we could encourage people to use their own reusable cup, that would help. Coffee sellers could sell cups for people who didn’t have one (and maybe an incentive like a free 1st refill); sell their product by volume (bigger fill, higher price); etc.

    • Owen Hu

      May 23, 2022 at 7:39 pm

      It still heavily relies on the person’s ability to keep reusing the cup. Because a reusable cup often has a way higher carbon footprint: “It would take between 20 and 100 uses for a reusable cup to make up for the greenhouse gas emissions of a single-use cup. For ecosystem quality indicators, it could take more than 1,000 uses.”

    • Chris Freemesser

      May 24, 2022 at 1:23 am

      Person brings their reusable cup to Starbucks, Starbucks fills the cup. Person drinks coffee, gets sick that evening. Was it the coffee or was the cup dirty? That’s why places like Starbucks don’t let you bring your own cup: liability

  11. Turnabout

    May 23, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    Enjoy your retirement, Commissioner Grayson.

  12. Marty D

    May 23, 2022 at 4:50 pm

    “trash”

  13. Seb Reb

    May 23, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    the goal is not to get the trash faster away. the goal is to produce much less trash 😉 solves much more problems than faster transports…

  14. Alpha Kennibawdie

    May 23, 2022 at 5:17 pm

    NYC trash is such a big deal, they dress their sanitation employees up like cops lmao

  15. n‏‏‎a

    May 23, 2022 at 5:32 pm

    amber’s detailed burrial

  16. Azz Yyy

    May 23, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    As of the next summer all the prices will go up

  17. DeVille

    May 23, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    I heard garbagemen get paid pretty well, as they should.

  18. dreams of music but alas day job

    May 23, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    Does NYC have a chapter of Extinction Rebellion?

  19. heckermen

    May 23, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    for the first 3 mins i thought a police man was talking about garbage

    • Chitose Saegusa 🔞💦

      May 23, 2022 at 8:14 pm

      ONLY FOR FANS OVER 18 YEARS 🍒
      I’d love to be Kimberly.Monster
      is my idol. Hes the person I aspire to be, hes my light of day.

  20. Peter Enis

    May 23, 2022 at 7:10 pm

    Use closed (with a lid..) containers for the streets like here in the Netherlands….you won’t have as much rats…see

    • Chris Freemesser

      May 24, 2022 at 1:26 am

      Garbage totes with lids are VERY common here in the US. Never use New York City as an example of how we do things here in the US…they’re weird. 😀

    • Peter Enis

      May 25, 2022 at 10:01 pm

      Thank’s Chris……i’ll remember that for next time. I learn something everyday! 😉

  21. Kylirr

    May 23, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    Why does the narrator say the word “trash” in such a stupid way?

    • oldcowbb

      May 23, 2022 at 9:22 pm

      TRAAAASH

  22. Ian Weetman

    May 23, 2022 at 8:03 pm

    The city needs to move towards a separated waste system based on colored bags… Eskiltuna, Sweden uses it and reduces their waste going into landfills by a SIGNIFICANT margin…

  23. PresidentialWinner

    May 23, 2022 at 9:00 pm

    He is Mr Clean’s funny fat brother. I like this guy.

  24. Sharon Hill

    May 23, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    More takeaway outlets need to accept and allow reuse-able items, for a discount to help with the single use trash.

  25. Zac Eckstein

    May 24, 2022 at 1:26 am

    I love this garbage man.

  26. Victoria Arhth

    May 24, 2022 at 2:34 am

    Digital currency is the future of finance, anybody still in doubt of that isn’t in touch of reality.

    • Ahmet Adamson

      May 24, 2022 at 4:19 am

      I think I’m blessed because if not ! wouldn’t have met someone who is as spectacular as expert Mrs Dawn think she is the best broker ever seen

    • David Max Bingham

      May 24, 2022 at 4:25 am

      Hello I met another investor of Mrs Dawn, I recently ventured to invest with her making trades on my behalf, she has been of great help, and her tutelage has led me to a greater understanding of profits.

    • Ahmet Diego

      May 24, 2022 at 4:29 am

      @David Max Bingham
      You don’t need to be surprised, because am also a big beneficiary of the trade services of
      expert Ms. Dawn.

    • Alex Pluto

      May 24, 2022 at 4:33 am

      She’s the first~rated, inimitable and most satisfactory broker, I have tried many professionals, but I only earned exceptional income trading with Ms. Dawn strategy .

    • David Peters

      May 24, 2022 at 4:35 am

      All thanks 🙌😊 to Mrs Dawn Fitzpatrick for giving me the best results and aslo making me to be among the winning investors

  27. Flying Grayson

    May 24, 2022 at 3:55 am

    This gentleman is a great speaker.

  28. Liz Kerr

    May 24, 2022 at 4:01 am

    Ed’s back!!!!

  29. D.B.

    May 24, 2022 at 5:55 am

    So sad to see…. We need to change how we live & treat this planet!

  30. D.B.

    May 24, 2022 at 5:58 am

    Imagine the carbon footprint of the 1000s of truck-miles too!

  31. Maria Hotgirl Vlogs

    May 24, 2022 at 6:06 am

    Does NYC have a chapter of Extinction Rebellion?

  32. - [N A Y L A]- Go To My ChanneI! L!VE NOW

    May 24, 2022 at 11:01 am

    The city needs to move towards a separated waste system based on colored bags… Eskiltuna, Sweden uses it and reduces their waste going into landfills by a SIGNIFICANT margin…

  33. Jeniffer-🥂T[A]P Me!! to Have [𝐒]𝐄𝐗 With 𝐌𝐞

    May 24, 2022 at 1:05 pm

    Reducing single-use is also a way to help.
    For example: that coffee cup. If we could encourage people to use their own reusable cup, that would help. Coffee sellers could sell cups for people who didn’t have one (and maybe an incentive like a free 1st refill); sell their product by volume (bigger fill, higher price); etc.

  34. Jonie-_ T[A]P Me!! To Have [S]EX💞 With Me🔞

    May 24, 2022 at 2:40 pm

    Thank goodness for hardworking men like this who quietly perform their duties to keep our society running. What a champion.

  35. Sharon Winters

    May 24, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    Kids have zero concept of reducing the use of plastics. They are focused elsewhere.

  36. N.S raj world 🌍

    May 25, 2022 at 6:35 am

    Love the video!

  37. GW Manish 2

    May 25, 2022 at 6:43 am

    great stuff

  38. Rahul. committee channel

    May 25, 2022 at 6:43 am

    hahahhaha

  39. 26jori

    May 25, 2022 at 7:12 am

    please keep the refuse series going this is so sick

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

People & Blogs

My Epic Journey Becoming the Fastest Person to Paddle around Australia | Bonnie Hancock | TED

What challenges lie ahead of a staggering 12,700-kilometer paddle around the entire continent of Australia? Crocodiles and sharks were just the beginning, says Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock. Reflecting on her remarkable feat of becoming the fastest person to paddle around Australia, she shares lessons on perseverance, resilience and finding meaning in life’s toughest moments. If you…

Published

on

What challenges lie ahead of a staggering 12,700-kilometer paddle around the entire continent of Australia? Crocodiles and sharks were just the beginning, says Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock. Reflecting on her remarkable feat of becoming the fastest person to paddle around Australia, she shares lessons on perseverance, resilience and finding meaning in life’s toughest moments.

If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more: https:// go.ted.com/bonniehancock

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks #adventure

Continue Reading

People & Blogs

How to Live With Fire | Oral McGuire | TED

Uncontrolled fire threatens nature — but the right kind of fire can maintain the health and balance of the land, says fire management expert Oral McGuire. As a leader in the Nyungar community of southwestern Australia and a former firefighter, he connects traditional wisdom with modern techniques to wield fire in a way that promotes…

Published

on

Uncontrolled fire threatens nature — but the right kind of fire can maintain the health and balance of the land, says fire management expert Oral McGuire. As a leader in the Nyungar community of southwestern Australia and a former firefighter, he connects traditional wisdom with modern techniques to wield fire in a way that promotes biodiversity and heals the spirit of the land at the same time.

Countdown is TED’s global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The goal: to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, in the race to a zero-carbon world. Get involved at

Learn more about #TEDCountdown:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
Website:

If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more:

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks #fire

Continue Reading

People & Blogs

The Secret Ingredient of Business Success | Pete Stavros | TED

Too often, employees are unmotivated and unhappy, with no real incentive to invest much of anything into their place of work. Investment expert Pete Stavros thinks there’s a better way, and he’s on a mission to rethink corporate structures to expand who benefits from a thriving company. If you love watching TED Talks like this…

Published

on

Too often, employees are unmotivated and unhappy, with no real incentive to invest much of anything into their place of work. Investment expert Pete Stavros thinks there’s a better way, and he’s on a mission to rethink corporate structures to expand who benefits from a thriving company.

If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:

Follow TED!
X:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more:

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

#TED #TEDTalks #business

Continue Reading

Trending