After our discussions this week, I have come to realize that the notion of “waste” is not a neutral one; rather, it is an inherently loaded term, carrying the weight of historical power dynamics and skewed value judgments. How did we reach a point where whole ecosystems, such as rivers, become mere “sinks” for our […]
Personal Reflection on Colonialism, Pollution, and Productivity Read More »
Questions for this week: What ways of conceiving of the natural world allow us to treat materials or locations as waste? Why and how are spaces like rivers and landfills ‘sinks’ for waste, places that can unproblematically absorb a set amount of waste? In what ways have modern scientific practices both helped to prevent the
Colonialism, pollution, productivity Read More »
For this week, I took a picture of my family’s trash again. In the trash, I noticed a lot of little scraps and different letters from the mail. There’s also takeout and some food packaging that is clearly visible. A big takeaway for this week is the fact that my family still receives letters and
Landfills and waste sites reflect societal perceptions of waste and cleanliness. Historically, in states like Massachusetts, landfills are placed in low-cost, low-valued areas. While this is cost-efficient, it often overlooks environmental and health concerns for nearby communities. Additionally, landfills are sometimes located near bodies of water and wetlands, increasing the risk of water contamination. A
How Landfills Reflect Social Hierarchies Read More »
Boston’s iconic skyline and historic streets were’t always where they are today. Over centuries, the city expanded its footprint by filling in tidal flats, marshes, and parts of the harbor to create new land. This expansion was crucial for economic growth, transportation, and housing but it came at a great environmental cost. The filling of
The Cost of Progress Read More »
I found this week’s discussions on landfills to be very interesting overall. In particular, before this week, I was not aware of the concept of a “sanitary landfill,” and I always tended to assume that there was not such a thing as landfills that are designed with environmental concerns in mind. As we discussed in
Personal Reflection on Landfills Read More »
Boston’s sewage problems are much older and complex than I had initially anticipated before these readings. One striking fact that I learned during these readings was the privatization of many of the sewer systems early on, which later on led to unknown sewage pipes and systems throughout the city. When the city began to attempt
The Striking Dirtiness of the Charles River and boston sewers Read More »
I think that there is a fascinating discussion around the question of where waste is ‘supposed’ to be in relation to this week’s readings, particularly in relation to the social contract often formed by people and governments. The first thing I find fascinating is how long it took for people to not only become upset
Where waste is ‘supposed’ to be Read More »
The way modern cities handle waste and wastewater really showcases both our creativity and our disregard for the environment. Take ‘sanitary’ landfills, for instance—they’re a step up from open dumps, but they still have significant flaws. While they do a better job of containing waste and preventing immediate contamination, they also contribute to long-term pollution
Reflection on ‘Sanitary’ landfills, wastewater, and city structure. Read More »
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the processes that led to the creation of the Boston we know today. The land under our feet and the sewage systems that we utilize on a daily basis are typically taken for granted. The Main Drainage Works source we read from 1888, describes both the early sewer structure and
Reflection on Boston’s early sewage Infrastructure. Read More »