Ep 1. This is Garbage Land

In the fifth season premiere of Hoarding: Buried Alive, titled "This is Garbage Land," viewers are introduced to a woman named Carol who has been hoarding for over 20 years. Her cluttered home has become nearly uninhabitable and a major health hazard, with piles of garbage, food containers, and other refuse filling every room.

Carol's hoarding habits began after a difficult divorce and the death of her mother. She started collecting items as a way to fill the emotional void in her life, and things spiraled out of control from there. Now, with her home deemed a fire hazard by local authorities, Carol is faced with the daunting task of cleaning up the mess she's created.

Enter hoarding expert Matt Paxton, who works with Carol to confront her hoarding behavior and make a plan for tackling the clutter. He quickly realizes the enormity of the task at hand, as Carol's possessions have spread throughout her entire house and even into her backyard.

As Matt and his team begin the cleanup process, they encounter a wide variety of challenges. Some items are deeply sentimental to Carol and she has trouble parting with them, while others are simply too disgusting or dangerous to handle. Matt and his team wear protective gear as they wade through piles of moldy food, broken glass, and other hazards.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given a glimpse into the toll that hoarding takes not only on the person who is hoarding, but also on their loved ones. Carol's daughter, who lives in another state, is deeply worried about her mother's well-being and makes an emotional visit to see the state of her home. Carol's ex-husband also makes an appearance, revealing the extent to which her hoarding habits contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.

In the end, the cleanup proves to be a long and difficult process, but Carol is able to make significant progress with the help of Matt and his team. She learns to let go of some of her possessions and begins to see the value in creating a safe and healthy living space. And while there are still challenges ahead, "This is Garbage Land" offers a hopeful glimpse into the possibility of healing and progress in the face of even the most daunting hoarding situations.