The lessons learned in garbology programs are essential in achieving sustainability. Different fields of study has explored the study of garbology and its uses. William Rathje's start of his ecologically oriented garbology excavations began in 1987. This project is sometimes referred to as the "garbology project". Garbology is not mathematics, one need to dig it, feel it, sort it. In response, many schools have incorporated garbology into the curriculum. Garbology today is used to assess waste and figure out new ideas for waste management.