College of the Atlantic began an annual audit of its discarded items in 2014, in which their potential use beyond waste such as compost or recycling is evaluated.College of the Atlantic began an annual audit of its discarded items in 2014, in which their potential use beyond waste such as compost or recycling is evaluated.

BAR HARBOR - Going in and sorting through garbage is not for the faint of heart. But behind every bag could be some hidden treasures, like a full coffee bag and maybe some not so desirable items, like a dead rat.

“It’s not only about what you personally throw away, but about the larger system - resource, extraction, production and consumption, and last, disposal,” said Lisa Bjerke, discarded resources manager. 

These self-titled ‘garbologists’ are collecting trash to educate their peers on the importance of waste management.