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Trash vs. Garbage — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 22, 2023
Trash and garbage are terms often used interchangeably to refer to waste, but they can differ in context. Trash generally refers to dry waste like paper and packaging, while garbage typically refers to wet waste like food scraps.
Trash vs. Garbage — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Trash and Garbage

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Key Differences

Trash and garbage are two terms commonly used to describe waste materials, though they are not identical in meaning. Trash usually refers to dry waste materials, such as paper, cardboard, and certain types of plastics. Garbage, conversely, is often associated with wet or organic waste, like food scraps or anything that may decompose.
In American English, the terms are often used interchangeably, but distinctions can be important in certain contexts. For example, recycling guidelines may explicitly state which items should go in the trash versus the garbage. Failure to comply with such guidelines can lead to penalties or ineffective waste management.
While trash usually encompasses objects that have lost their value or utility, it can also refer to things of low quality in a metaphorical sense, as in "trash TV" or "trash talk." Garbage does not have as wide a range of metaphorical uses but is primarily focused on items that are not only useless but may also decay or emit a foul odor.
Another nuance is that trash receptacles are often called "trash cans," and these are generally used for dry waste. On the other hand, "garbage cans" are more likely to contain a mixture of both dry and wet waste, including food remnants. In commercial or municipal settings, the distinction may be even more rigorously observed, with separate bins for trash and garbage to aid in recycling or composting efforts.
The terms also vary in usage around the world. In some countries, "rubbish" might be the term for what Americans would call "trash," while the term "garbage" might be less commonly used. Despite these regional differences, the goal remains the same: to categorize and dispose of waste materials efficiently.
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Comparison Chart

Type of Waste

Usually dry waste
Usually wet or organic waste

Common Usage

American English
American English

Metaphorical Usage

Broader (e.g., "trash talk")
Limited

Typical Receptacle

Trash can
Garbage can

Importance in Recycling

Often separated for recycling
Usually not recycled

Compare with Definitions

Trash

Refers to dry waste material.
The trash bin was full of paper and plastic.

Garbage

Usually not recycled.
Most of the garbage ends up in a landfill.

Trash

Waste material; refuse
The subway entrance was blocked with trash

Garbage

Refers to wet or organic waste.
The garbage bin had food scraps in it.

Trash

A person or people regarded as being of very low social standing
Clubs patronized by rock trash

Garbage

Rarely used metaphorically.
He couldn't believe the garbage he was hearing.

Trash

The leaves, tops, and crushed stems of sugar cane, used as fuel.

Garbage

Typically stored in a garbage can.
Please put the leftovers in the garbage can.

Trash

Damage or destroy
My apartment's been totally trashed

Garbage

Garbage, trash, rubbish, or refuse is waste material that is discarded by humans, usually due to a perceived lack of utility. The term generally does not encompass bodily waste products, purely liquid or gaseous wastes, nor toxic waste products.

Trash

Criticize severely
Trade associations trashed the legislation as deficient

Garbage

Rubbish or waste, especially domestic refuse
A garbage dump
Garbage littered the estate

Trash

Intoxicated with alcohol or drugs
There was booze, but nobody really got trashed

Garbage

Food wastes, as from a kitchen.

Trash

Strip (sugar canes) of their outer leaves to ripen them faster.

Garbage

Refuse; trash.

Trash

Worthless or discarded material or objects; refuse or rubbish.

Garbage

A place or receptacle where rubbish is discarded
Tossed the apple core into the garbage.

Trash

A place or receptacle where rubbish is discarded
Threw the wrapper in the trash.

Garbage

Worthless or nonsensical matter; rubbish
Their advice turned out to be nothing but garbage.

Trash

Something considered worthless or of inferior quality, such as a piece of writing.

Garbage

Inferior or offensive literary or artistic material.

Trash

Disparaging, often abusive speech about a person or group.

Garbage

Food waste material of any kind.

Trash

A person or group of people regarded as worthless or contemptible.

Garbage

Useless or disposable material; waste material of any kind.
The garbage truck collects all residential municipal waste.

Trash

Something broken off or removed to be discarded, especially plant trimmings.

Garbage

A place or receptacle for waste material.
He threw the newspaper into the garbage.

Trash

The refuse of sugarcane after extraction of the juice.

Garbage

Nonsense; gibberish.
This machine translation is garbage

Trash

To throw away; discard
Trashed the broken toaster.

Garbage

Something or someone worthless.

Trash

To damage or wreck, as by vandalism
The house got trashed during the party.

Garbage

(obsolete) The bowels of an animal; refuse parts of flesh; offal.

Trash

To criticize severely or attack verbally
The film was trashed by reviewers.

Garbage

An easy shot.

Trash

To remove twigs or branches from (a tree, for example).

Garbage

To eviscerate

Trash

To cut off the outer leaves of (growing sugarcane).

Garbage

(informal) bad, crap, shitty

Trash

Useless physical things to be discarded; rubbish; refuse.

Garbage

Offal, as the bowels of an animal or fish; refuse animal or vegetable matter from a kitchen; hence, anything worthless, disgusting, or loathsome.

Trash

A container into which things are discarded.

Garbage

To strip of the bowels; to clean.

Trash

Something worthless or of poor quality.
When your life is trash, you don't have much to lose.

Garbage

Food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

Trash

A dubious assertion, either for appearing untrue or for being excessively boastful.

Garbage

A worthless message

Trash

The disused stems, leaves, or vines of a crop, as well as any weeds mixed therewith, which will either be plowed in as green manure or be removed by raking, grazing, or burning.

Garbage

A receptacle where garbage is discarded;
She tossed the moldy bread into the garbage

Trash

Loose-leaf tobacco of a low grade, with much less commercial value than the principal grades.

Garbage

Often used in American English.
The word 'garbage' is commonly used in the U.S.

Trash

People of low social status or class. See, for example, white trash or Eurotrash.

Trash

A fan who is excessively obsessed with their fandom and its fanworks.
I am Harry Potter trash.

Trash

(computing) Temporary storage on disk for files that the user has deleted, allowing them to be recovered if necessary.

Trash

(US) To discard.

Trash

(US) To make into a mess.
The burglars trashed the house.

Trash

(US) To beat soundly in a game.

Trash

(US) To disrespect someone or something

Trash

To free from trash, or worthless matter; hence, to lop; to crop.
To trash the rattoons of sugar cane

Trash

To treat as trash, or worthless matter; hence, to spurn, humiliate, or crush.

Trash

To hold back by a trash or leash, as a dog in pursuing game; hence, to retard, encumber, or restrain; to clog; to hinder vexatiously.

Trash

That which is worthless or useless; rubbish; refuse.
Who steals my purse steals trash.
A haunch of venison would be trash to a Brahmin.

Trash

Especially, loppings and leaves of trees, bruised sugar cane, or the like.

Trash

A worthless person.

Trash

A collar, leash, or halter used to restrain a dog in pursuing game.

Trash

To free from trash, or worthless matter; hence, to lop; to crop, as to trash the rattoons of sugar cane.

Trash

To treat as trash, or worthless matter; hence, to spurn, humiliate, or crush.

Trash

To hold back by a trash or leash, as a dog in pursuing game; hence, to retard, encumber, or restrain; to clog; to hinder vexatiously.

Trash

To follow with violence and trampling.

Trash

Worthless material that is to be disposed of

Trash

Worthless people

Trash

Nonsensical talk or writing

Trash

Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant

Trash

Dispose of (something useless or old);
Trash these old chairs
Junk an old car
Scrap your old computer

Trash

Express a totally negative opinion of;
The critics panned the performance

Trash

Often used in American English.
In the U.S., people usually say 'trash' instead of 'rubbish.'

Trash

Can be used metaphorically.
He dismissed the gossip as trash.

Trash

Typically stored in a trash can.
She threw the empty carton in the trash can.

Trash

Commonly separated for recycling.
Make sure to separate your trash for recycling.

Common Curiosities

What does trash usually refer to?

Trash usually refers to dry waste like paper, plastic, and packaging.

Can trash have metaphorical meanings?

Yes, trash can be used metaphorically to refer to things of low quality.

Are the terms trash and garbage interchangeable?

While often used interchangeably, they can refer to different types of waste.

What is the common receptacle for trash?

The common receptacle for trash is a trash can.

What is the common receptacle for garbage?

The common receptacle for garbage is a garbage can.

Is garbage usually recycled?

Garbage, especially wet or organic waste, is usually not recycled.

Do other countries use the term garbage?

The term "garbage" is most commonly used in American English.

Is garbage used metaphorically?

Rarely, garbage is mainly used to describe physical waste.

Is trash usually recycled?

Trash, especially dry waste like paper, is often separated for recycling.

Can trash include plastic waste?

Yes, trash often includes plastic waste like bottles and packaging.

Are there penalties for misclassifying trash and garbage?

Some municipalities may have guidelines and penalties for incorrect waste separation.

What does garbage usually refer to?

Garbage usually refers to wet or organic waste like food scraps.

What's the key difference between trash and garbage?

The key difference is the type of waste: trash is usually dry, while garbage is usually wet or organic.

Can garbage include food waste?

Yes, garbage often includes food waste like scraps and leftovers.

Do other countries use the term trash?

In some countries, the term "rubbish" may be used instead of "trash."

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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