Book Description

'If Trash Could Talk' represents Jacquie Ottman's personal experiences and insights woven into thought-provoking poetry, stories and musings. Designed to amuse, entertain, and inspire conversations and change, the sixty entries in the book were created over the course of Ottman's lifelong journey, beginning at age four when she rescued board games from the neighbor's trash. Reflecting conversations with conversed with fellow waste-haters, consumers, and visitors to Ottman's WeHateToWaste.com global platform, combined with a laser-like focus on New York City's trash culture, the book is packed with insights into why we waste and what we can do to avoid it. Readers will discover new ways to use things up, use stuff longer, pass stuff along, and pass things up altogether in the name of reducing waste. They will smile at their own 'trashy' eccentricities, reflected in Ottman's experiences, shared with humor and self-deprecation. They will see waste through a new set of eyes and be inspired to share with others what it is that they do to cut down on waste. Influencers and teachers looking to catalyze meaningful conversations in their own schools, churches and communities can use these poems, stories and musings as a springboard for discussion, as well as inspiration when creating their own. As Ottman hopes, 'by starting to talk about what we all can do to save a little this, spare a little that, readers will take the first meaningful steps towards making real changes in consumption culture that can eventually help everyone live a whole lot better.' What Readers Say about "If Trash Can Talk" "Jacquie makes poetry fun. It was great hearing the stories of a like-minded person, and I learned so many things too!" "I'm energized and full of new ideas to create community and cut down on waste through sharing." "In these times when backward-looking people now hold power, to make policy around what Jacquelyn has to say takes on great importance. Shes tells us that we can do something. That we can make a difference. That we can be the powers that be. Few understandings are more important."