Waste is often associated with people or things considered of lower value. This connotation exists because of the discomfort and unwantedness attached to trash itself. As mentioned earlier in the semester, dumpsites and landfills are often placed in lower-class areas, where minorities and people of lower socioeconomic status face the direct consequences of living near […]
Last week, we explored different ways of thinking about waste and how we might improve our practices. One key concept we discussed was cradle-to-cradle, which encourages us to view waste not as something to eliminate but as a valuable resource that can be reused or regenerated. This circular model contrasts with the more common cradle-to-grave
Why Cradle-to-cradle May Not Be The Solution Read More »
Companies often rely on plastic to produce disposable items because it lowers packaging costs and boosts their profit margins. While they benefit economically from plastic use, they rarely take responsibility for the environmental consequences of its production and waste. Instead, the burden of managing plastic waste is shifted onto individual consumers, who are expected to
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Disposability was heavily promoted in the early stages of industrialization, especially as capitalist ideologies took hold. The economic benefits of a throwaway culture were prioritized over long-term environmental consequences. What began as an innovative concept quickly became a matter of convenience, with disposability now deeply ingrained in daily life. While disposable products contribute to pollution,
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A recurring theme in our readings this week was the idea that waste serves as a reflection of modern society. Scanlan uses garbage as a metaphor for modernity, which I find interesting because modernization and the rise of capitalism inevitably produce waste as a byproduct. It’s interesting to consider what society deems productive or unproductive.
Nothing Is Ever Truly Gone 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
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This week’s readings highlight the stark differences between typical DSNY workers and the Pedal People. What stands out most to me is how the Pedal People prioritize emotional well-being and mutual care within their business, something rarely seen in traditional urban maintenance jobs. DSNY employees are predominantly men who operate within a system shaped by
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Before industrialization, households were resourceful and innovative in making their belongings last. However, with the rise of technology and modern society, consumerism has taken precedence, leading people to rely on corporations to address issues once solved through self-sufficiency. Over time, there has been an increasing desire for privacy, evident in trends such as digital communication,
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In this week’s readings and discussions, we dove into the evolution of human waste, and how the connotations of shit changed through time. It is interesting to think about how something natural like human waste has been perceived in the modern day, especially since past perceptions of it have been relatively positive. In many cultures
The Modern View of Shit Read More »