The term "dumpster fire" is a colloquial expression that has gained traction in recent years, primarily used to describe a chaotic or disastrous situation. Originating from the literal image of a dumpster in flames, which suggests an out-of-control and attention-grabbing mess, it has become an idiomatic way to characterize events, decisions, or scenarios that are seen as failures or catastrophes. Often imbued with a mix of humor and dismay, the term is frequently employed in both casual and formal discourse to convey a sense of disorder or dysfunction.

Dumpster serves both literally and metaphorically as an amplifier for the underrepresented voices of Western New York’s community. Rather than accumulating discarded waste as a typical dumpster does, Dumpster gathers and magnifies the oral histories of individual Western New Yorkers, performing a unique cultural inversion. This concept, explored in depth by the renowned anthropologist and activist, David Graeber, highlights scenarios where a society's proclaimed values are at odds with its actual behaviors. Such discrepancies can often obscure or justify societal actions that might otherwise be recognized as problematic or incongruent.