Excellent musical theater presentation for environmentally conscious organizations, schools, churchers, community groups, youth theater and more. It is the story of 4 recyclable wanne bees who live at the dump and wait for their opportunity to re-enter society to be "viable" again. Written by Diane Cameron

1. TRASH TAWKIN
AN ENVIROMENTAL THEATER MUSICAL PLAY
FROM THE GREEN EARTH THEATER SERIES
BY DIANE CAMERON
usaartistobenin@aol.com
www.theateronwheels.blogspot.com
©2003
For young readers
(And those with young hearts)
By Diane Cameron
(c) 2000 - 7K Publishing
Act I – Scene I
Scene opens at a city landfill where you find the following
characters bemoaning their fate:
Milk Carton aka quot; MC Whitequot;
Aluminum Soda Can aka quot; Poppyquot;
Glass Bottles aka quot;Shadquot;
Discarded Newspaper aka quot; Pagequot; or Newsie to his friends
Milk Carton “Here we are day after day with new family
members arriving all the time. Why I saw my uncle Half Gallon
come in here last week…boy he looked sad. All those years of
service at the dairy and he was just tossed aside after he got too
old, didn’t even receive a pension plan. Downsizing and mergers
are to blame I tell ya...
Soda Can I know wha'cha mean…People today just have no
value for those who have served them well. Ow!.... look at me….
I’ve got all these bruises from people kicking me up and down

2. the street. I was just so glad that no one stomped me with his or
her feet, or another human favorite is to bend me in the
middle just to hear that sound...
Glass Bottle Well I hate to complain too guys, but you should
have seen what happened to my cousin... She came
here shattered in so many pieces that I didn’t recognize her.
Newspaper I don’t know why you guys are complaining…
People line up every morning to buy me and then throw me away
about an hour later. My best friend was lucky; her reader
used her to line all the kitchen cabinets. She used every section
but the sports pages. That ended up crumpled and at the bottom
of a birdcage.
Milk Carton I remember the good old days, when I was used
as a base to make beautiful dolls. I would be lined with soft
colorful crochet yarn and displayed at all the county craft shows.
Everyone would admire my beauty. I was something to see in
those days. Then one day it happened, someone stripped me of
my gorgeous garment and decided I was no longer needed…..
And so here I am…. trying to encourage the younger cartons
when they end up here to remember the good times. Maybe that
was the reason I was created, just to support others who have
fallen. If only the world could see us as we see ourselves. Full of
hope and usefulness. If only…. If only…oh well…now…I don’t
mean to go on and on....
Soda Can Its okay….. You are among friends…. I mean if we can’t
tell each other our problems…. whom can we talk to? In my hey
days, I would be used to collect all kinds of coins. Actually, I
would say I was the first piggy bank most kids knew. I would get
dusted off and placed in a secret place of their bedrooms,
sometimes even under satin pillows….It was just grand back in
the good old days…Then kids started asking for dollars, and bank
accounts and even credit cards…. They no longer needed me and
so…. well…. I sort of ended up here. Boy I would like to used
again…. and how I long to hear the sounds of coins going clink
clink …..Oh….I’m sorry…. Now I’m doing the same thing.

3. Glass Bottle Don’t worry…..I understand just how you feel. I
was the original soda container. At the turn of the century it
became wildly popular to use glass for all kinds of soft drinks.
My great grandmother had a slight green hue. That was the hot
color in her day, but boy oh boy you could still see the different
colors of the soft drinks. They would look so grand and regal in
the old country stores. People in those days would not dare
break a bottle. We were a rarity and commanded a lot of
respect. Folks would collect and display us for their friends and
family to admire. Some of the lucky ones would end up
in antique stores where their beauty could continue to be
appreciated. My great uncle once told me that he was responsible
for the first kiss of one of our famous United States Presidents. It
was over a game that was the craze at that time, where young
people would spin a bottle and then kiss the person the bottle
pointed to when it stopped spinning. He says this famous
President went on to marry the same young girl. And then…aw
guys..Scuse me…now, here I go (wiping a tear)…don’t mind me,
it just helps to reminisce about the good old days when I was
highly prized.
Newspaper That’s okay……..........none of us mind it…do we?
As you were talking I was thinking about all the trees that are cut
down each year just to create me, and once people are finished
with me they toss me aside like yesterday’s news.
Oh…well………..I guess I am yesterday’s news…anyway. I saw a
beautiful writing tablet on the dining room table the day I came
home with Mr. Brown. I admired it so, I had never seen anything
like it before, and it was extra beautiful I tell you. Well, this
tablet whispered over to me that she was made of recycled paper.
There was such classiness and a bit of snobbery in the way she
said it. I just knew there was a future for me. But that weekend
the Brown family had a fish fry, they used me to drain the extra
fish oil, placed me in the trash bin and the rest is history……
Soda Can Well we have got to get ourselves together so
that we can be a source of strength for the new ones that will be
here soon. This is Monday and you know what that means.

4. Milk Carton I know... we do this every week. You would think
we were with Welcome Wagon or something. The Monday
morning truck will be here in a few minutes.
Glass Bottle Hey guys shhhhh!….Listen…...I hear the truck I
wonder which one of us has a family member coming this
time...its getting harder and harder to see the disappointment in
their faces when they get off the truck. Most of them have no
idea they would ever end up here..
Newspaper Well c'mon guys let’s put on our best game face....
remember how you felt when you first showed up....
Glass Bottle Look over there...it’s a smaller truck being pulled
by the regular one!!
Poppy Hold on... I'll roll over there and investigate. It
doesn't sound like the usual Monday morning pile.
Newspaper Tell us… what is it
Glass Bottle Don’t keep us in suspense… I’m a little broken up
but I guess I can roll over there and look for myself.
Poppy No wait…. You are not going to believe this
Milk Carton I’ve braced myself for the worst so I’m ready for
the news!
Newspaper: I don't believe my eyes....
Glass Bottle: My My My
Poppy: It’s an abandoned truck!
Milk Carton: What happened?
Newspaper: We know how I arrived here but we certainly
never expected to see you.

5. Dumpy: Hello everybody... I remember all of you... I was
part of the crew that brought you here
Glass Bottle: Yes I remember now!
Poppy: I rode out here rattling back and forth... what a noise I
made.
Dumpy: Aw don't worry about the noise...
Newspaper: Well why are you here.....tell us...
Dumpy Sniff Sniff (loudly blowing his nose) you see, I used to
make my pick-ups every Tuesday and Thursday in the east part
of town. Sniff (blows his nose again) I knew all the kids in the
neighborhood and the dogs…. But then, the developers built a
huge subdivision and the Board members decided that I wasn’t
efficient enough to handle the extra load and they retired me last
week. It just isn’t fair, I was there from the beginning in the rain,
freezing snow and soaring heat….and just like that….someone
decided it was time to let me go. (blows his nose loudly one more
time)
Poppy was the first to speak.
Poppy Gee and here we are complaining about our problems
and just look at you..
Newspaper Is there anything we can do?
Dumpy Some of you have been here for a long long time.
Glass Bottle Too Long!
Dumpy Listen. . when I was on my way here… I was parked
outside the council building and I heard a meeting that was in
session.
Milk Carton What was the meeting about?

6. Dumpy They were talking about the litter and apathy among
the residents about they dispose of you guys.
Newspaper Well that’s obvious… look where we are
Dumpy No No…. that’s not exactly what I mean
Poppy What do you mean?
Dumpy tells them the details of the meeting
Split Stage as the actors reenact the Town Meeting
(Town of Mineral Springs, Arkansas is having a Board Meeting.
The Mayor and several of the townsfolk are present to voice their
displeasure with the increase of the presence of refuse
throughout the city)
Mrs. Baker My husband has been in the Mineral Springs
Sanitation Department for over 20 years and he is quite troubled
at all of the plastic, can, bottles and newspapers that end up in
the regular waste pick-up.
(The residents speak in low tones to each other nodding their
heads in agreement)
Mayor Smith Mrs. Baker thank you for your comments
Mrs. Baker Well I appreciate the thanks but I am not
finished. I think we ought to find a way to increase the
consciousness of the folks in this town about the problem.
Mineral Springs is a beautiful resort town, and if we don’t do
something now, will end up hurting our tourist industry.
Mayor Smith Thank you again Mrs. Baker…is there anything
else.
Mrs. Baker Well that’s all for now…
Mr. Martin I agree with Maggie….

7. (The townsfolk motion to each other in agreement)
Townsfolk We do too… something has got to be done…
(they begin conversing with Mrs. Baker)
Mrs. Baker I think we should have another meeting in 6
months to address this issue again.
Mayor Smith Agreed, we will return to the council chambers
exactly 6 months from today. Good evening all.
Everyone leaves speaking quietly to Mrs. Baker and each other.
(Scene returns to the city dump)
Glass Bottle They should have asked us for a solution, after all
I have left so many of my family members and there are many
more over there (he points to the main area of the dump) who I
don’t even recognize anymore
Poppy Me too! Some of my family members have been
crushed and stomped until they can’t even stand up.
Newspaper That’s terrible…. They are going to wait 6
months… I can’t wait that long…. My family really has it hard….
They are only good for a day at a time
Milk Carton What are we going to do?
Dumpy Guys, I have an idea….. I was thinking about it all the
way here and I just know it will work. In fact, I even wrote a song
about it…
(Newspaper, Glass Bottle, Poppy and Milk Carton chide in
together) “Let’s hear it!!!
Dumpy Ah em… (clearing his throat)
He sings…………..

8. Another Opportunity
Words & Music by Diane Cameron
Dumpy o p p o r t unity
o p p o r t unity
(he motions to the group to join him when he spells out unity)
Don’t count me out
Don’t look me over
All I want you see
Is another opportunity
The other 4 join in singing with a little soft shoe
Don’t count us out
Don’t look us over
All we want you see
Is another…
(spelled) o p p o r t unity
o p p o r t unity
ALL O P P O R T U N I TY (Broadway style ending)
End of Act I
Copyright © Eddie Bear Publishing 2003-2009. All rights reserved.
This play may not be reproduced or redistributed without written permission
from the publisher.
Eddie Bear Publishing © rights reserved.