“Elements of Waste” (in development since 2018) is Keeley Haftner’s evolving visual artist statement and material rubric that frames her materially driven practice. Centered on garbage as an abstract concept capable of housing all matter, it takes the form of a circular diagram that organizes waste into eight interconnected Elements—Wood, Metal, Junk, Plastic, Glass, Ceramic, Pictures, and Fabric. Drawing on interdisciplinary influences such as Materials Science, the Bauhaus curriculum, and the waste industry, the framework operates as both a conceptual map and an editing tool, guiding Haftner’s intuitive and research-driven engagement with materials. As a neurodivergent artist, this evolving structure provides necessary parameters for organizing the symbolic, chemical, and ontological expansiveness of waste, allowing complexity to be engaged with clarity and intention rather than overwhelm.