The University of New Mexico Office of Student Academic Success as part of the Lobo Reading Experience hosts a lecture series titled, “Talkin’ Trash,” with speaker Edward Humes, Pulitzer prize-winning author of “Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash.” The series runs Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 14 - 15 with two sessions.

Humes’ book is this year’s featured selection for the Lobo Reading Experience, a program created for students as a common reading experience that fosters a sense of community while promoting reading campus-wide.

His book illustrates the fact that an average American produces 102 tons of garbage during a lifetime, while $50 billion in squandered riches are rolled to the curb each year. Trash bins are just the starting point for a strange, impressive, mysterious and costly journey that may also represent the greatest untapped opportunity of the century.

The series kicks off with a community panel from 3 - 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Southwest Film Center in the Student Union Building (SUB). The event features Humes as well as panelists from the New Mexico Recycling Coalition, New Mexico State Legislature, the City of Albuquerque and UNM Recycling.

Events pick up again Wednesday with a lecture by Humes from 1 - 2 p.m. in SUB Ballrooms A, B and C. Humes will speak on his book as well as why student writing should be celebrated.

In addition to the Lobo Reading Experience, the UNM Alumni Association hosts its next Lobo Living Room event Wednesday from 6 - 7:30 p.m. featuring Humes' book, “Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash," he will discuss his book of the same name.

The Lobo Living Room is a venue that features notable UNM alumni discussing, demonstrating, performing in their areas of expertise, and or UNM alumni-related events.

All sessions are free and open to the public. An RSVP is required by Oct. 14 for the Lobo Living Room event. Free parking for the event will be available in B lot at University and Central Ave.