Terra X
The History of Trash
2022 • E23 May 22, 2022 43m
The film searches for traces of waste and sewage throughout history, from the Stone Age, through antiquity and the Middle Ages, to the present day. Since the dawn of humankind, waste has existed. As soon as humans could stand, they had both hands free – to make and use tools, but also to let things ‘fall’ or deliberately throw them away. Over the centuries, the composition of waste has changed, sometimes dramatically. With every human invention, a new type of waste was created. The advent of urban living made waste and feces a significant problem. Not only did waste literally stink to high heaven, it was also rightly blamed for epidemics in ancient times. Disposal also became a logistical challenge.