The Element Encyclopedia

by Theresa Cheung
Dreams in which you throw away garbage may be connected to a desire to rid yourself of emotional and physical waste. Try to work out what the dream is referring to and dispose of it. If, however, the dream garbage was being thrown out by friends or loved ones, then perhaps other people are doing your dirty work for you. There may also be a suggestion that you need help ridding yourself of something damaging.

If you throw something precious out in your dream, you are not appreciating someone close to you or are taking them for granted.

If you are covered in garbage, you may be afraid of some form of humiliation or feel emotionally burdened in waking life.

The presence of dirt in your dream will also refer to something distasteful in your waking life. Bear in mind, though, that such a dream may not be completely negative, as we use manure or fertilizer to encourage growth. The allusion may therefore be to some action that is disagreeable but will yield results. Excrement or feces in dreams has a different meaning, indicating that you are purging yourself of something or someone in waking life that is poisonous to you. A dream of pollution also refers to something that is damaging to you—emotionally and physically—if you do not avoid or dispose of it. Dreams of splashing through a puddle or being covered with soot may refer to mild irritations in waking life. A drain disposes of excess water and if it appears in your dream, it may suggest that you are feeling drained emotionally.

The Language of Dreams

by Patrica Telesco
Having too much mental clutter, or scattering attention in too many directions.

In a dump: Feeling literally “dumped on” by others or circumstances. Alternatively, being surrounded by scandal.

A desire for orderliness and organization that’s generated by having your sense of structure dismantled.

Tilings in your life of which you need to rid yourself.

Counsel from your subconscious that you figuratively need to socially, mentally, or physically clean up your act. What exactly needs to be thrown away so that you can grow and change?

A poor self-image that manifests in treating yourself like worthless garbage. Ecological concerns displaying themselves through your dream.

Garbage trucks represent personality types that tend to accumulate possessions to assert their security, instead of developing personal qualities.

Finding something valuable in: An alternative type of treasure dream (“one person’s trash is another’s treasure”). Also, an optimistic outlook.

Compost heaps represent the need to nurture and fertilize your ambitions.

A compost heap is also an emblem of taking a negative and finding a creative means of making it a positive.

The Big Dictionary of Dreams

by Martha Clarke
Garbage is generally synonymous of shady affairs and scandals; however, it can also prove to be a good omen.

If you do not feel disgust toward it you will have economic gains; but if it is stinking, you will experience negative moments with people around you.

If a woman dreams of garbage it is a warning against a humiliating breakup with her partner. On other occasions, garbage symbolizes all the things that you want to eliminate because it prevents you from progress: your character traits, attitudes, fears, memories... On the other hand, it represents that you have been appointed to a position that has nothing to do with you.

Some beliefs say that this dream portends that your wildest dreams will come true.