Trashopolis

Watch Trashopolis

  • 2011
  • 1 Season
  • 8.2  (44)

Trashopolis is a fascinating documentary series that premiered in 2010 on the Smithsonian Channel. The show explores the impact of garbage on cities and their inhabitants throughout history. With Jesse Blaze Snider as the narrator, viewers are taken on a journey through time to learn how cities have dealt with their trash and how it has shaped their development.

Each episode explores a different city, including Rome, Paris, New York City, and London. Viewers will learn about the waste management practices used in these areas, as well as the challenges faced by those responsible for keeping their streets clean. These challenges can range from epidemics caused by unsanitary conditions to industrial accidents caused by waste build-up.

One of the fascinating aspects of Trashopolis is how it explores the cultural and societal impact of waste. For example, the series takes a closer look at the role of waste in the development of modern art, as well as how it has been used as a way to control marginalized communities. Through interviews with experts in various fields, viewers gain a greater understanding of how waste has shaped our world.

Trashopolis also examines the technological innovations that have been developed to deal with waste. From landfills to incinerators, viewers will learn how these solutions were developed and how they have evolved over time. This includes a look at some of the more recent innovations, such as converting waste into energy.

Throughout the series, viewers are presented with a wealth of historical photos and archival footage, which helps to bring the various cities to life. Additionally, the inclusion of interviews with historians, urban planners, and environmentalists provides a deeper level of insight into the topics discussed.

One of the standout episodes of the series is the episode on New York City. Viewers will learn how the city has dealt with its waste over the years, from the early days of simply dumping it in the harbor to the innovative solutions that are used today. The episode also explores the impact that waste has had on the development of New York City's neighborhoods and how it continues to shape the city today.

Another standout episode covers Paris, France. Viewers will learn about the development of the city's underground sewer system, which was revolutionary at the time it was built. The episode also takes a closer look at the role of trash in the development of modern art, with a focus on the work of artist Arman, who famously created artworks made entirely out of trash.

Overall, Trashopolis is an engaging and informative series that provides a unique perspective on the impact of waste on our world. With Jesse Blaze Snider as the narrator, viewers will be taken on a journey through time and around the world to explore the cultural, societal, and technological developments that have been shaped by waste management. This series is a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of cities, waste management, or the intersection of culture and environmentalism.

Trashopolis
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Seasons
Montreal
7. Montreal
September 1, 2012
Since its founding in 1642, Montreal has been partying hard and creating lots of trash. After hosting the World Fair in 1967, Montreal tried to clean up its act, but discovered that changing the mindset of a culture that believes trash "just floats away" is nearly impossible.
Moscow
6. Moscow
August 25, 2012
Moscow churns out five million tons of garbage a year. Some blame Western-style consumerism, but things weren't much better back in the old days, when Peter the Great created the Moscow garbage man. The method? Dump trash just outside the city and built on top of it.
London
5. London
December 4, 2011
In 43 AD, a Roman outpost on the banks of the Thames River, called Londinium, was rapidly expanding. Roman builders used trash to support the docks of the new port -- today that trash reveals fascinating details of daily life in the ancient city. London continues to prosper and trash continues to generate huge projects.
Rome
4. Rome
November 27, 2011
Roman Emperors show their power and the glory of the Empire in their monuments, temples, fountains and aqueducts. Demons lurk below the public toilets. Slaves built the greatest sewer in the world.
Paris
3. Paris
November 20, 2011
The walls of the city's largest cemetery collapsed causing decomposing bodies to fall out. Six thousand corpses were moved into the tunnels of the catacombs. Terrified by ancient beliefs, Parisians refuse to bathe and create perfume to mask their body odors.
Cairo
2. Cairo
November 13, 2011
Cairo is one of the biggest cities on the planet, and getting bigger by the day. In 50 years, the population has grown fivefold to 18 million. Each day the city accumulates about 25,000 tons of trash. In a land of narrow streets and donkey-drawn carts, how is it all picked up? And where does it all go? Take a junk-filled journey through time as we detail Cairo's 2,000-year battle with trash. It's a tale marked by slave labor, Black Death, haunted toilets and a modern-day city built from the trash of Africa's modern metropolis.
New York
1. New York
November 6, 2011
When the Dutch buy Manhattan, the island is a swampy marsh. But trash, and enormous mounds of giant oyster shells, help build the New Amsterdam Seaport into the most profitable port in the New World.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    November 6, 2011
  • IMDB Rating
    8.2  (44)