Virtue of Garbage

Abstract This article examines the lives of waste workers at the Ulaanchuluut landfill in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, through ethnographic fieldwork, focusing on the socio- economic conditions, environmental challenges, and human experiences associated with this waste site. Drawing on personal field notes, interviews, and visual documentation, it highlights the struggles of waste workers who collect recyclable materials while enduring harsh working and living conditions. The concept of the “Wasteocene,” coined by Marco Armiero, frames the analysis, emphasizing not only the environmental impact of waste but also its role in shaping human lives and identities. The paper challenges the stigma surrounding waste workers, often depicted negatively in media, and stresses the need for inclusive waste management policies. The closure of Ulaanchuluut in the near future raises important questions about the future of waste workers, their livelihoods, and the social and economic displacement they may face. This study calls for a broader, more compassionate understanding of waste and its workers.