In an animation, Andy, a garbologist with brown hair and a beard, drives a small truck through a garbage dump. The truck's roof has a propeller and a solar panel. A wide broom is on the truck's underside. On the side are a tool panel, a vacuum hose, a garbage bin, recycling bins for food and electronic waste, and a blue bin for paper, cans, and bottles.

[Upbeat music plays, tires screeching]

Andy says, YOU WANNA KNOW A SECRET? SOME OF THE BEST STORIES CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR STINKY, SLIMY, ROTTEN TRASH. DON'T BELIEVE ME? CHECK THIS OUT!

The truck takes off. Smiling garbage gathers.

Title: Garbology.

[Whirring, upbeat music continues]

Andy stops his truck by a trashcan in front of a house. A robot dog flips on top of the lid.

[Barking]

Andy says, HEY THERE, LITTLE FELLA. WHAT'S THE MATTER?

The mechanical arm picks the robot dog up and takes out two batteries.

[Whirring, thunking]

The first battery says, AH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! YOU SAVED US!

The second battery says, YEAH, MY HERO.

Andy asks, WHY? WHAT DID I DO?

The first battery hops on the trashcan lid.

[Clanking]

The first battery asks, IS YOUR VOLTAGE LOW? IF WE WOULD'VE STAYED IN THERE, WE WOULD'VE POWERED THAT ANNOYING DOG BARK ALL THE WAY TO THE LANDFILL, AND YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING: IF A TOY DOG BARKS IN THE LANDFILL AND THERE'S NO ONE TO HEAR IT, DOES IT EVEN EXIST? AM I RIGHT?
AM I RIGHT? AM I RIGHT?

Andy says, ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HEARD THAT.

The first battery asks, WHO WANTS THAT? NOT ME. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'M FULL OF ENERGY, STILL PUMPED!

The second battery slowly says, I... FEEL... KINDA... LOW.

Andy asks, IS HE OKAY?

The first battery says, HE'S JUST A LITTLE TIRED. HE NEEDS TO BE RECYCLED, THEN HE'LL BE GOOD AS NEW.

The second battery slowly says, GOOD... AS... NEW.

I MEAN, IF YOU HADN'T COME AROUND AND SAVED US, WE WOULD BE STUCK IN THAT TOY FOREVER. EVENTUALLY OUR POWER WOULD LEAVE US, AND THEN...

Andy asks, WHAT?

The first battery says, IT'S NOT PRETTY, ANDREW. WE CAN LEAK ACID THAT CAN BURN SKIN, AND IT'S TOXIC TO EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES.

A pile of batteries leaks green acid. The first battery imagines leaking acid and falls onto their side.

[Acid hissing, squirting]

The first battery says, I WOULDN'T WISH IT ON MY WORST ENEMY, WHO HAPPENS TO BE TROY, THIS REALLY ANNOYING TRIPLE A BATTERY I USED TO KNOW, BUT THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT NOW!

Andy says, SO YOU'RE SAYING PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE BATTERIES OUT OF THEIR TOYS BEFORE THEY THROW THEM OUT, OR BETTER YET GIVE THEM AWAY?

The first battery says, FOR SURE! JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MANY LANDFILLS ARE STUCK WITH THINGS FULL OF BATTERIES: WIRELESS HEADPHONES, FLASHING SUNGLASSES, ELECTRIC DRUMSTICKS, SINGING PIGS. IT'S SUCH A WASTED OPPORTUNITY! AM I RIGHT, BUDDY?

At the dump, headphones, sunglasses, drumsticks, and a pig toy fall onto a trash pile.

[Rock music plays, pig squealing]

The second battery says, YOU... ARE... ACCURATE.

Andy says, WELL, YOUR FRIEND NEEDS TO BE RECYCLED, BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? YOU SEEM... PEPPY.

The first battery says, YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. I'M SUPER PEPPY, FULL OF PIZAZZ!

Andy says, WELL, MY T.V. REMOTE NEEDS A NEW...

The first battery says, SAY NO MORE, I'M YOUR GUY. WELL, CHUM, IT'S TIME TO PART WAYS.

The mechanical arm picks up the second battery.

[Whirring]

The second battery says, GOOD... BYE. IT'S... BEEN... A...

The mechanical arm drops the second battery into the electronic waste bin.

[Thudding]

The second battery continues, SLICE.

Andy says, REMEMBER, KIDS: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE YOUR BATTERIES.

[Upbeat music plays]

Andy jumps into his truck and the first battery jumps up on the steering wheel.

[Grunting, clunking]

The first battery says, OKAY, WHAT NEXT? WHERE'S THAT REMOTE? NO OFFENSE, BUT I'M GLAD TO BE OUT OF THAT DOG'S BUTT. BUDDY WAS A BIT OF A DOWNER, COULDN'T REALLY KEEP UP. SAY, THIS IS A NICE VEHICLE. CAN I DRIVE? CAN I? CAN I?

[Engine whirring]

Andy says, IT'S GONNA BE A LONG DRIVE HOME.

[Upbeat music plays]

End credits. Executive Producers: Jonas Diamond, Andrew Nisker. Produced and Voice Directed by Jeremy Diamond. Director: Luke Coleman. Animation Director: Darien Ardell. Produced in Association with T.V.O. Kids. Kirsten Hurd, Executive Producer, T.V.O. Kids. Logos: T.V.O. Kids, Take Action Films, Smiley Guy Studios. Copyright 2024 Garbage Man Productions Incorporated, Smiley Guy Seen Incorporated.