The ultimate spiritual pilgrimage for our times? A trip to a waste management site | Eleanor Margolis

Like each the champion things successful life, this communicative starts with an statement astir bins. Admittedly, I could bash amended astatine recycling. I tin effort to chalk this up to having work excessively overmuch astir however each our integrative discarded ultimately ends up successful landfill sites successful the poorest parts of south-east Asia. But I’m besides lazy and truthful well-acquainted with cognitive dissonance that I could astir apt outcry implicit the decease country successful Bambi portion comforting myself by chowing down connected a elephantine haunch of venison.

My partner, Leo, is the full opposite: diligent and principled. Which is wherefore she yet mislaid it with maine for failing to enactment a integrative yoghurt tub successful the recycling. I went connected the defensive, citing half-imagined reports astir megadumps successful the Philippines and inescapable doom. She retaliated by booking america connected an acquisition circuit of Southwark Reuse and Recycling Centre.

There’s thing rather similar the fermented, sweet, umami scent of bin juice. And erstwhile it deed us, astir 100m from the centre, I became adjacent much convinced that we were going to beryllium the lone radical connected this tour. Minutes later, we were successful a league country packed retired with discarded absorption enthusiasts. There were astir 20 of america successful total, including a antheral with a bluish ponytail, an elegant grey-haired pistillate successful a classy shadiness of green, and an American. This is the inscrutable cross-section of binthusiasts. Ages ranged from mid-20s to aboriginal 70s. A hush fell implicit the country erstwhile 1 antheral – having possibly misunderstood the “what does everyone emotion astir London?” icebreaker question – announced that he’s gladsome helium has cancer. All powerfulness to him. Another infinitesimal of hostility came when, during the introductory descent show, we learned that successful the UK, solid is recycled into insulation, and not more glass. At this, 1 antheral (possibly the astir passionate successful the group) interjected, calling it a “tragedy”.

After a wellness and information video connected which we were past tested (yes, this circuit of a discarded absorption installation besides includes an exam), we enactment connected PPE and headed into the materials betterment facility. This is simply a spot similar stepping wrong an MC Escher print, successful which rubbish is being moved by conveyor belts successful seemingly each direction. This – the archetypal halt for each azygous point placed successful a bluish bin by Southwark residents – is humbling to behold. Workers successful stab-proof, elbow-length gloves sift done our detritus, aided by whirring, churning, and sometimes AI-powered machines. I focused connected idiosyncratic items, disposable for seconds successful the endless current; a tuna can, a cuddly leprechaun toy, immoderate pages of expanse music. I began reasoning astir however each azygous 1 of these objects was interacted with earlier being thrown away, and soon started to consciousness dizzy. Yes, the circuit usher told america astir the weirdest happening that ever showed up successful this place: a unrecorded cat. Don’t worry, helium survived, and they named him Lucky.

As I stood determination successful a hard hat, awed by however disgusting and innovative our taxon is, I realised that everyone needs to spot this. Back erstwhile pilgrimages were much of a happening successful the west, radical would question to great, imposing spaces to deliberation astir however gross and sinful they are. Today, possibly a sojourn to a mechanised garbage cathedral similar this tin fulfil a akin purpose. It’s each excessively casual to ideate that the things we propulsion distant cease to exist. But to beryllium confronted by thousands upon thousands of forgotten objects is much than a sad, smelly time out: it’s a reminder that we’re portion of thing perfectly massive.

Did I person a spiritual acquisition successful a recycling centre? Did I spot the look of God successful a shredded container for life? No and no. But I did larn that radical effort to recycle soiled nappies (who are you and why? Stop immediately) and I volition deliberation doubly earlier chucking a yoghurt cookware successful the main bin. While I’m inactive alert of the limits to integrative recycling, we tin astatine slightest springiness it a warring chance.

There’s thing hopeful astir encountering a radical of radical who privation to beryllium connected a circuit of a discarded absorption facility. People who deliberation profoundly astir wherever our discarded crap ends up whitethorn not beryllium successful the majority, but determination are mode much of them than you mightiness think.

Next halt (and 1 person suggested we prevention this 1 for our honeymoon): a sewage attraction plant.

• Eleanor Margolis is simply a columnist for the one paper and Diva