Field Notes on Trash Bin Search
A small piece of rubbish has been in a pocket for twelve minutes. The walk has not passed an acceptable bin. The standards for an acceptable bin are higher than expected.
FIELD NOTE 1: The Item
The rubbish is a toffee wrapper, approximately 5cm × 3cm, crinkled. It weighs approximately one gram. It has been in the right jacket pocket since its separation from the toffee.
FIELD NOTE 2: The Bins Encountered
Bin 1 (3 minutes into walk): inside a medical centre. Using it would require entering a medical centre, which feels like an inappropriate use of a medical centre's bin.
Bin 2 (7 minutes): a blue recycling bin at the corner. Marked for paper. A toffee wrapper may contain foil. The classification is uncertain. The blue bin was passed.
Bin 3 (9 minutes): the standard bin outside a bakery. Currently overflowing. Using it would require either lifting the existing rubbish aside or balancing the wrapper on top. Both options felt disproportionate.
Bin 4 (11 minutes): across the street. The walk is on the right side of the road. The bin is on the left. The wrapper is small and the detour would be approximately twenty seconds.
FIELD NOTE 3: The Standards
The standards for an acceptable bin have emerged implicitly:
- Inside private premises: no.
- Specialized bins for specific waste types: uncertain classification produces hesitation.
- Overflowing bins: undesirable.
- Bins requiring route deviation of more than fifteen seconds: borderline.
FIELD NOTE 4: The Resolution
Bin 5 was a general purpose bin outside a supermarket, on the correct side of the road, at full capacity with appropriate headroom. The wrapper was deposited at minute fourteen.
Total carrying time: fourteen minutes. Bins considered: five. Bins used: one.