June 18, 2026 · Amelia N. Aldred

“Trash! A Garbageman’s Story” Tells Readers to Throw Away Polite Fictions

Throughout the book, Paré-Poupart draws clear lines between those who collect trash and those who only produce trash, whom he sarcastically refers to as “the good citizens” and “the virtuous taxpayers.” His memoir takes an unapologetic “us vs. them” stance, and his style of describing the characters of the memoir flips the usual depiction of trash collectors, making garbagemen stand out against the background of neighbors and “good citizens,” instead of being part of the background themselves. The garbagemen of Paré-Poupart’s memoir have names, histories, personalities, even signature movements while handling trash