The first in a series of four games by Green Games, Taking out the Trash focuses on the seemingly simple act of recycling. Packed full of information on each of the three trash types featured in the game (landfill, recycling and organics), it raises important questions about the materials we use and where they end up.
The game can accommodate between two and four players. It consists of 58 oversized cards, including 9 Action Cards which add an element of strategy. With hands of four concealed cards, players pick-up and discard one card per turn as they try to collect sets of four matching Trash Cards to "fill" each of their bins. The first player to "fill" each of his/her three bins wins.
This intentionally simple mechanic keeps play time short at around 10 minutes, making it ideal for classroom applications and as an icebreaker to the otherwise quite serious subject of sustainability.