Will we eventually have to send our trash into space if we run out of room on Earth?

Humans generate a lot of trash, but there are cheaper and safer ways to handle it than loading it on rockets.

By: Kate O'Neill, University of California, Berkeley, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 4, 2026

Words: 959

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

By Kate O'Neill, University of California, Berkeley

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

Will we eventually have to send our trash into space if we run out of room on Earth? Aiden, age 13, Maryland Heights, Mo.

Our planet holds a lot of trash. Since the Industrial Revolution, we humans have …

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