Archaeology Magazine - October 1974 - 15

dent analysts examined and recorded the garbage
by item number, volume, cost, material composition, brand and waste weight. Although we examined refuse over an eight-month period, our
study could encompass only six hundred out of
110,000 households, or less than one per cent of
all the households in Tucson.
To protect the anonymity of the households
studied, we recorded garbage samples only by
the number of the census tract. Personal items
were of no interest since we were looking
only for general patterns of resource management; therefore, we did not examine, record or
save any names, addresses, photographs, letters
or other personal items. The student workers,
whose number has now increased to fifty, were
given immunizations and provided with lab
coats and gloves; happily, to date, none
of them has lost any time through illness contracted on the Project.
Our results so far have yielded some interesting conclusions. While considering both the garbage which had been analyzed and the results
of survey interviews, we discovered that statusbrand items are purchased most regularly in
households containing young adults, the aged
or members of ethnic minorities. For example,
although steak is no more nutritious than hamburger, middle -class families generally bought
(and discarded wrappers of) ground round while
the other groups mentioned above regularly purchased more costly cuts of beef.
Although some stereotypes were confirmed by
the findings, many were disproved. Middle-class
white families, for instance, eat proportionately
more ham, lamb, pork and chicken than Black,
American Indian and Asian households. In addition, the lowest income groups use the most
costly educational items for children and the
largest quantities of household sanitation items;
they also consume the greatest quantity of vitamins, liquor and bread.
Some general patterns of waste have already
begun to emerge. As one might expect, there is a high rate of expensive waste of pastry and takeout meals; but the most significant waste is of
staples- beef, fruits and vegetables, discarded
often in unopened or only half-opened packages.
Whereas white middle-class households seem to
waste such commodities very consistently, ethnic
minorities were found to avoid this sort of patterned waste. Our data show, moreover, that in
their habits of resource management, the young
and old are much alike.

key f !randM .
TypeNeeded
DRUGS:
COMMERCIAL
074
ASPIRIN
075
STABILIZERS
(NoDoz,Etc.)
076
PHYSICAL
(ExLax,Contac)
077
ILLICIT
DRUGS
078
DRUG
COMMERC.
PARAPHERNALIA
079
PARA.
ILLICIT
DRUG,
Needle
Rigs.
(Papers,
BentSpoons)
080
INJURY
ORIENTED
(Iodine,
Band-aids)
081
BABY
SUPPLIES
CONTRACEPTIVES:
082
MALE*
083
FEMALE*
084
PETVALUES:
PETFOODS
085
PETTOYS
PETMAINT.
etc.)086
(Litter,
Combs,
PERS.
SANITATION.
HETERO:
Soap,087
Razor
Blades
Mouthwash,
Toothpaste,
SANITATION
MALE:
PERSONAL
MOUTH
A
" 088
BODY
A
089
HAIR
090
A
FEMALE:
PERSONAL
SANITATION
MOUTH
091
A
BODY
092
A
HAIR
093
A
HOUSEHOLD
CLEANERS
094
HOUSECLEANING
095
TOOLS
(Sponges)
COOKING
&SERVING
AIDS
096
AUTO
097
SUPPLIES
APPLIANCES 098
ELECTRICAL
MECHANICAL
APPLIANCES 099
100
FURNITURE
101
CHILD
MALE
CLOTHING:
102
ADULT
MALE
103
CHILD
FEMALE
104
ADULT
FEMALE
105
DRY
CLEANING
NEWSPAPER106
ORGANIZATIONAL
107
MAGS.
INTEREST
GENERAL
108
MAGS.
SPECIAL
INTEREST
109
GUIDES
ENTERTAINMENT
JUNK
MAIL:
AND
PLYERS
110
BOOKS
111
RECORDS
112
INSURANCE
113
ESTATE
REAL
114
FINANCIAL
115
CAT.
HOUSEHOLD
(Appliances)
116
CAT.
FASHION
117
FOOD
118
GIFT
SHOP
119
COMBINATION
In 120
LETTERS:
FINANCIAL
Money
Bank
Etc.)
Balances,
(Paychecks,
Out 121
LETTERS:
FINANCIAL
Money
Rent)
Utilities,
(Bills,
Charge,
122
KINSHIP
LETTERS
123
LETTERS
FRIENDSHIP
VALUE:
CHILD
BOOKS
EDUC.
(Nonfic.)* 124
GAMES
EDUCATIONAL
(Toys)* 125
126
BOOKS*
AMUSEMENT
127
TOYS*
AMUSEMENT
ADULT
VALUE:
128
GATE
RECEIPTS*
READING
EDUC.
(Nonfic.)* 129
AMUSEMENT
READING
(Fic.)* 130
131
GAMES*
AMUSEMENT
132
ITEM*
HOBBY
RELATED
133
PHOTO
SUPPLIES*

GARBAGE ITEM CODE LIST
TISSUE
CONTAINER
001
TISSUE
SHEETS
002
NAPKIN
CONTAINER
003
NAPKIN
SHEETS
004
PAPER
TOWEL
CONTAINER
005
A
PAPER
TOWEL
SHEETS
006
A
TOILET
PAPER
PKG.(White)
007
TOILET
PAPER
SHEETS
(White) 008
TOILET
PAPER
PKG.
(Colored) 009
TOILET
PAPER
SHEETS
(Colored)010
PLASTIC
WRAPS
011
BAGS
012
FOIL
CONTAINERS
013
SHEETS
FOIL
014
LOCAL
NEWSPAPERS
015
CIGARETTES
016
(filter)
(Pack,Carton)
CIGARETTES
017
(non-filter)
(Pack,Carton)
CIGARS
018
Boxes)
(Packages,
PIPETOBACCO
Cans) 019
(Pouches,
MEAT-Beef
020
*
021
MEAT-Other
022
POULTRY-Chicken
023
POULTRY-Other
024
FISH-Fresh
Water
025
FISH-Salt
Water
026
FISH-Crustaceans,
* Mollusc
027
TVDINNERS
028
MEALS
TAKE-OUT
*A*
029
FRESH
VEGETABLES
030
PEEL
POTATO
*
031
VEGETABLES
CANNED
032
PACKAGED
CANNED;
Soups,Stews,Sauces
*
033
VEGETABLES
FROZEN
034
FRESH
FRUIT
035
PEEL
CITRUS
036
FRUIT
CANNED
037
FRUIT *
FROZEN
038
SUPPLEMENT
VITAMIN
039
HOUSEHOLD:
Sugar
040
Salt
HOUSEHOLD:
041
LARD,
OIL,MARG.
042
NUTS
FOOD
Puddings 043
DIPS;Whips;
044
CANDY
045
PASTRY
046
SALAD
OIL;Dressing
047
SPICES
OTHER
BABY
FOODS
048
A
MILK
049
050
BUTTER
051
DAIRY
OTHER
052
EGGS
053
CHEESE
054
COFFEE
DECAF.
A
055
REG.COFFEE
A
056
TEA
A
057
CHOCOLATE
058
BOTTLED
CANNED,
FruitJuice
059
CONCEN.
FRUIT
JUICE
060
SODA
DIET
A
061
SODA
REGULAR
A
062
CRACKERS
CHIPS,
063
BREAD
WHITE
064
DARK
BREAD
065
KIDDIE
CEREALS:
066
AVERAGE
067
ECOLOGY
068
NOODLES
069
SLOP
070
BEER
071
WINE
072
SPIRITS
073
DRUGS
PROSCRIBED

The waste in the average household might
seem small; but it becomes very costly when it is
viewed on a large scale. It is not the occasional
whole steak and unopened can of cranberries
which are the real contributors to waste; rather,
it is the everyday patterns of food purchase, consumption and storage which lead to significant
mismanagement. It would seem, given inflation
and the national concern over the state of our
environment, that there is enough pressure on
housewives to conserve; but the facts belie this
239

Archaeology Magazine - October 1974

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Archaeology Magazine - October 1974