Paper cup, maker unknown, mid 2010’s. Made of paper with a thin wax or plastic coating on the interior. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Single-use flip-flips, maker unknown, early 1990s. Unidentified plastic foam sheeting. Collection, Katherine C. Grier.

Single-use flip-flips, maker unknown, 2010’s. Unidentified plastic foam sheeting. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Coffee cup sleeve produced for Ike’s Coffee & Tea in Tucson, Arizona, maker unknown, produced between 2000-2016. Corrugated cardboard. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Disposable camera, Polaroid, late 1990’s or early 2000’s. Camera is essentially a plastic box with with a decorative cardboard case and film wound internally inside it. The camera’s user handed the entire camera in to a photo services center. The center would develop the photos and then dispose of the plastic camera shell. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Toothbrush, maker unknown, mid-2010’s. Colpolyester plastic body with rubber grips and nylon bristles. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Paint brushes, maker unknown, year unknown. Wooden handle, polyester or nylon bristles, and an unknown metal ferrule. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Men’s paper collar, Gibson Lee Collar Company, year unknown. White starched cotton with paper backing. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Nitrile gloves, maker unknown, 2000’s. Made of nitrile, a synthetic rubber. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Traveler’s lid for a disposable paper cup, Solo Cup Company, manufactured between 1990 and 2016. Made from Polystyrene. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Single use contact lenses, maker unknown, early 2010’s. Made from an unknown hydrogel. Collection, Katherine C. Grier.

Single-use chopsticks, maker unknown, 1990s. Wood, paper and ink. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. This particular set of chopsticks came from Chop Suey Louie’s, a popular lunch spot near the University of Utah campus.

Water bottle, probably American, 2014. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Most single-use water bottles are made from this plastic.

Plastic carrier bag, maker unknown, 2014. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

Syringe set, syringe produced by Monoject and needles produced by Terumo Medical Corporation, year unknown. Unknown plastic syringe body and stainless steel needles. Collection, Katherine C. Grier.

Array of pens and markers, some produced by Sharpie other makers unknown, 2010’s. Unknown plastic pen bodies. Collection, Katherine C. Grier.

Schick Extreme 3 razor, Schick, circa 2014. Unknown plastic handle and head with steel alloy blades. Collection, Katherine C. Grier.

Firefighters Sleeping Bag (M-1981), The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc, , early 1990s. Polyester non-woven cover, cotton thread and tape, batting. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. This sleeping bag was distributed to fire jumpers in Utah. While it could be washed, it was intended to be left behind.

Bath mat, American Hotel Register Company, Northbrook, IL, 1990. Paper and ink. Collection, Katherine C. Grier.

“Aseptic” Paper Drinking Cups, Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., Cambridge, MA, around 1910. Waxed paper and wire. Collection, Katherine C. Grier. Reflecting public concern about infectious disease, the text on the envelope promotes it as “health insurance in its cheapest form.”

Various disposable items for a spread in the Messenger on “Disposable America”, a project by Katherine Grier, professor of history and director of the Museum Studies program. – (Evan Krape / University of Delaware)

Sauce packet, packaged for Taco Bell Corporation, Irvine, CA, 2014. Flexible “sachet” with high moisture barrier.

Plastic forks, Dixie, 1960’s. Unknown plastic material. Collection, Ashley Giordano.

Wooen fork, Bellwood, year unknown. Unknown wood. Collection, Ashley Giordano.

Paper forks, Saniforks, circa 1920’s. Stiffened paper. Collection, Ashley Giordano.

Thirty-two piece wooden silverware set, unknown maker, year unknown. Unknown wood. Collection, Ashley Giordano.

False nails, Kiss, 2016. Unknown plastic plating and gel adhesive on the back. Collection, Rachel Eskridge.

Shower cap, Studio35 Beauty, 2015. Stiffened paper. Collection, Kara Yenkevich.

Nail polish remover pads in foil package, Studio35 Beauty, 2016. Foil package and cotton blend wipes. Collection, Kara Yenkevich.

Lipstick, Revlon, 2015. Polypropylene tubes and unknown wax and dye. Collection, Rachel Eskridge.

Hair dye kit, Lulu Beauty Company, 2016. Unknown plastic, foil package, nylon bristles. Collection, Kara Yenkevich.