Detectives can learn a great deal by inspecting the garbage of people they have under surveillance. Students can be detectives and investigate their own garbage. This article presents an activity that offers a chance for anyone to take a close look at how much garbage a typical family produces. This activity has mathematics, environmental concerns, recycling themes, and uses input for the whole class. It is a project that can span a week or more, and it really drives home the point of how math can be used in a very relevant and meaningful way. (Contains 2 tables.)