Because sometimes, it’s not the trash itself – but what we assume others will (or won’t) do about it – that creates the tension.
Recently, a friend mentioned their office had reached full-on drama status – over dishes in the sink and overflowing trash.
I gasped.
Not because it’s dramatic. But because it’s one of my favorite topics. Trash.
Seriously.
While I do have an affinity for upcycling and innovative waste system designs, I was referring to something a bit more cultural and within the realm of this blog. A year ago, I wrote a short blog on LinkedIn about what I call The Trash Can Effect. After her comment, I’ve started to think about how that’s been my go to for years on a simple way to express how systems effect culture.
Let me explain.
Trash Is Never Just Trash
In almost every job I’ve had – especially those without a daily cleaning service – there was a moment. You know the one:
The trash is full.
Someone squishes it down (you may see or just notice).
Someone else balances their banana peel like a circus act that’s, while frustrating, is honestly impressive.
Eventually, someone takes it out. But it’s also not always the same someone.
And what might seem like a small, annoying office moment becomes something else entirely.
It raises questions. Tiny, subconscious and very vocal ones –
- Am I the only one who notices this stuff?
- Why is this always left to the new hire?
- Shouldn’t Doug in accounting take it out once in a while?
(Sorry, Doug.)
The trash becomes symbolic. Not because we’re petty – but because we’re human. And humans read systems from their own perceived experience in order to ask that question we often go back to: Do I belong here?
Systems Are Read, Not Just Built
Most organizations build official systems for important things: payroll, promotions, project timelines.
But the systems that shape how we feel at work? They’re often unofficial.
Unspoken, invisible, and yet – deeply felt by everyone.
Like who empties the trash.
Or who books the meeting rooms.
Or whose “let’s circle back” actually ends in a follow-up.
These small systems – or lack thereof – send messages to the collective.
They tell us what and who matters.
They emphasize what kind of behavior gets noticed, ignored, or expected.
In that sense, trash is never just about the trash.
It’s about how we manage the overlooked.
Or more accurately – who is expected to manage what others overlook.
Trash, Perspective, and the Myth of Common Sense
Maybe the deeper system we need to examine is our assumptions.
What we overlook is often just how we naturally go about life.
We all prioritize different components of a shared space based on our upbringing, habits, attention, energy, culture, and (let’s be honest) the amount of caffeine we’ve had by 5 AM.
Our assumptions are complex – enough that another blog (or a book) could dive deeper.
Because what one person sees as obvious – “Just take it out” – another may never have been taught, asked, or expected to do.
Some people grew up in homes where chores were communal.
Others were told not to touch the trash because it wasn’t their role.
Some associate cleaning with respect. Others associate it with shame.
And some just honestly don’t notice until it overflows.
None of these perspectives are right or wrong – they’re shaped by context.
Culture. Family dynamics. Class. Work history. Personality.
A thousand invisible cues that shape how we show up in shared spaces.
The mistake is assuming everyone’s operating from the same invisible script.
And that’s where the tension creeps in.
Not because people are inconsiderate, but because systems often fail to clarify expectations – and instead rely on what we call “common sense.”
But common sense?
It’s rarely common.
It’s contextual.
So maybe instead of asking why someone didn’t take it out, we ask: What was assumed? And what was never made clear?
So What Now?
This isn’t a call to add “trash rotation” to your onboarding packet (though… honestly, could help).
It’s a reminder that small systems shape big feelings.
So next time someone’s frustrated about a full bin, a dirty microwave, or a messy Google Doc – it’s worth asking:
- Is the system unclear, or just unfair?
- Are expectations being carried, or just assumed?
- And how might this moment be saying more about belonging than we realize?
Because often, the trash is just the trigger.
The real story?
It’s what we choose to notice.
And what we choose to change..