Calif. caterer refuses to throw his 2007 refuse into trash bins

BERKELEY, Calif. - Ari Derfel leads a trashy life. He just wants to remind everyone else that they do, too.

The 35-year-old Berkeley caterer said he has saved every piece of trash he has generated over the past year to see how much garbage one person creates. In his case, it was about 96 cubic feet.

The experiment began as a way to examine his own consumption habits, Derfel said, but grew into a statement about consumerism and the environment.

"When we throw something away, what does 'away' mean?" Derfel said. "There's no such thing as 'away.' "

The refuse - including every tissue, receipt, food wrapper and plastic bottle - is in bins in the apartment's kitchen and living room. He composts food scraps.

He hopes to donate his accumulated waste to a sculptor. *