Garbage vs. Trash 

"Garbage" vs. "Trash" in English

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both words refer to the things we throw away because we no longer need them. However, 'garbage' is all the waste coming from the kitchen and the bathroom. 'Trash', however, is all the waste from different activities.

Differences

As I mentioned above, 'garbage' refers to all the waste that comes out of the kitchen and the bathroom of every place. It includes food waste, toilet paper, etc. Also, it is usually collected by the Waste Control Department. Look at the following examples:

Example

Mice usually come to places that are full of garbage.

She has this toxic habit of buying unnecessary stuff then throwing them in the garbage can after a while.

'Trash', on the other hand, refers to all the other waste coming out of different parts of houses. In other words, they are made from other activities like furniture, ties, cars, etc. Look at the following examples:

Example

Can you tell the difference between trash and garbage?

Who's gonna take out the trash tonight?

Similarities

As stated above, both of them refer to the unnecessary things that we throw away. Check out the examples below:

Example

Many people in my country still throw their trash on the street.

It is important to teach youngsters to throw away their garbage in the garbage can.

Are They Interchangeable?

Many native speakers use them interchangeably because they somehow refer to the same thing. Compare:

Example

✓ I once saw a program on TV about a man who had lived off of trash.

✓ I once saw a program on TV about a man who had lived off of garbage.

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