From the Cult of Waste to the Trash Heap of History

The book explores the evolution of waste management in Hungary, highlighting the contrast between the socialist emphasis on reuse and recycling and the detrimental practices that emerged post-privatization. It examines the cultural and environmental implications of waste within the context of Hungarian state socialism and post-Cold War capitalism. Central to the narrative is the conflict between a chemical company in Budapest and a rural village affected by its toxic dumping, illustrating the broader themes of environmental justice and societal values surrounding waste.