" A Big Piece of Garbage " is the eighth episode of Futurama's first season, originally aired on May 11, 1999. It is widely recognized for establishing the series' environmentalist perspective and introducing recurring characters like . Plot Summary
The episode follows the Planet Express crew as they discover a giant ball of garbage—launched from Earth in the 21st century—is on a collision course with New New York. After a failed attempt to destroy it with explosives, Fry saves the city by teaching the "future folk" how to create a second, equally large ball of garbage to knock the original off-course and into the Sun. Key Features & Inventions The 50 Best Episodes of Futurama - Paste Magazine [S1E8] A Big Piece of Garbage