Resting on my desk is a damp paper towel, used to wipe the surface of the desk. The towel is still white in color, and not showing any signs of stains. Despite its clean appearance, the towel is deemed waste. This is based on the fact that the towel has served its single purpose. This mindset around waste is shown in the article. The idea of use and purity is something that is brought up in Mary Douglas’ definition of dirt, she also goes on to describe what we think of as ‘dirty’. Douglas explains that the way we think of dirt is based on classification and cultural aspects, she also talks about the context in which we think of waste and how it changes with the context of the object. The paper towel is a cleaning tool, something pure, it now holds the dirt that was once on my desk. The classification for the paper towel is now broken and it is therefore waste. The context of the paper towel is also taken into account when asking if it is dirty because it was sitting on my desk. If the paper towel was instead in the bathroom or on a counter would it still be waste? In what context would it not be perceived as waste?