This is a change from games where every object you can pick up you can also use for something fairly important, and an exact opposite of games where everything you pick up must and does have a plot or game progress related use (see hoarding). Difficult for people who have a habit of collecting everything they see in games.

In some cases this may still be considered even if said trash can be used as missile weapons (thrown), as improvised weapons, salvaged for "parts", and so on. Also, there may be NPCs who do buy junk, although the price they give for it is usually hardly worth the effort.

At the core, this is an element for immersion, making the game world seem less purpose built for player's victory over the plot.