The Merrill kitchen has a host of waste removal structures, some obvious and some not so obvious. The most waste oriented structure is the black trash can next to the kitchen island and the recycling can by the fire extinguisher. Next is the numerous cleaning supplies that one would normally expect to find in a kitchen, dishwashing soap, paper towels, wipes, a cloth rag hung on one of the ovens, and hand sanitizer and tissue on the window sills. Which I would guess is a preventative measure for Covid/germs, not necessarily physical waste you can see with your eyes. The island houses the oven top which has removable burners to clean underneath and the fan/hood above primary purpose is to suck heat and/or smoke out of the air. Although not conventionally thought of as a cleaning mechanism it operates much in the same way as an air purifier does. Next to the two wall ovens there is a sign on the wall reading “Keeping Your Community Kitchen Clean” and “Make a mess? Clean the mess!” As well as other guidelines that people should be following here. This is notable because people have not been listening to any of the messages on it. The sink has several unwashed pots, silverware, and plates in it. Along with things clearly not being put away with care, instead being left out for somebody else to deal with. On another counter by the entry door people have been piling stuff that seems to be forgotten about. The last time I was using this kitchen was during the beginning of the semester and the fridge then seemed to be a place where food was stored to be eaten. Currently both the freezer and fridge are not a place that seems to be appealing to leave food. The fridge and freezer both stink and the fridge has literal mold growing in it. Both smell more like compost than what they’re supposed to smell like, which is nothing. I think that the leaving of food to the point of rot and willingness to leave the counters littered with cooking objects is because if other people do it then it is ok to do the same, the broken window theory.
