WASTED
Indiana University located in Bloomington, Indiana generates nearly 9,000 tons of trash every year. IU student Larson Parker doesn’t know where all the waste goes. Many students never even think about it. What even fewer realize is that IU’s landfill waste will travel over 55 miles to be dumped in the Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana. What does that journey look like? How many people handle that waste before it ends up in the landfill?

IU freshman Larson Parker chooses what to eat for lunch Oct. 21, 2021, at The Mix inside the Indiana Memorial Union. Larson lives on campus and said he eats most of his meals inside IU dining halls.

IU freshman Larson Parker sits down to eat Oct. 21, 2021, at the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall. Typically IU supplied compostable silverware but because of vendor issues they had to give out plastic silverware.

IU freshman Larson Parker throws his plastic fork into the landfill bin Oct. 21, 2021, at the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall. Larson said he wished he brought his reusable silverware, but he left them in his dorm room.

IU facility services worker John Zink leans over to change a trash bag Sept. 24, 2021, inside the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall. John was eight hours into his workday that began at 3 a.m. and ended at 1:30 p.m.

IU facility services worker John Zink replaces the recycling bin Sept. 24, 2021, inside the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall. The signs on the wall instruct students how to separate and throw away the waste from their meal.

IU facility services worker John Zink stands by the trash bins Sep. 24, 2021, inside the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall. John typically worked changing light bulbs but because of staff shortages he now helps take out the trash in the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall.

IU facility services worker John Zink works while a student studies behind him Sep. 24, 2021, inside the Indiana Memorial Union dining hall. John said that he actively tries not to disturb the students while he does his job.

IU facility services worker John Zink opens the trash compactor Sep. 24, 2021, at the Indiana Memorial Union. He said that they collect about 12 tons of landfill waste a week at the Indiana Memorial Union.

A Republic Service truck heads toward the transfer bay to unload Oct. 5, 2021, at the Bloomington Transfer Station. Each truck is weighed before it can dump waste into the covered transfer bay.

A bucket loader pushes landfill waste over the ledge of the transfer bay into the back of a semi-truck below Oct. 27, 2021, at the Bloomington Transfer Station. Each semi-truck is loaded with about 25 tons of landfill waste according to Operations manager of the Bloomington Transfer Station, Jason Roland.

Landfill waste is pushed into the back of a semi-truck Oct. 5, 2021, at the Bloomington Transfer Station. A third-party company hauled the waste to a landfill in Pimento, Indiana near Terra Haute.

Endurance Environmental semi-truck driver, Jeff Keene poses for a portrait Nov. 5, 2021, before leaving the Bloomington Transfer Station. This was his second trip to the Republic Services Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana near Terra Haute.

Endurance Environmental semi-truck driver, Jeff Keene pulls into the Republic Services Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana Nov. 5, 2021. The trip from the Bloomington Transfer Station to the landfill took about an hour and ten minutes.

A semi-truck dumps waste into the Republic Services Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana, on Nov. 5, 2021. The process of dumping waste from the semi-truck takes five to ten minutes and then the truck leaves to go get the next load.

Landfill workers use dozers to pack down trash to conserve space Nov. 5, 2021 at The Republic Services Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana. About 2,200 tons of waste are disposed of in the landfill every day, according to Alan Cox, the Operations Manager.

A hot pink child’s car sits in the landfill Nov. 5, 2021, at Republic Services Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana. Each night the waste must be covered with a layer of dirt.

The Republic Services Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana, landfill workers use dozers to build the waste up into a large pile Nov. 5, 2021. Underneath the waste, there is a layer of thick black material and clay to prevent leakage into the ground.