The Urgency of Waste

Sarah Ekblad illuminates the need for new, sustainable waste removal infrastructures and services to encourage behaviours that ultimately reduce waste

A pile of rubbish hides in an opaque bin near a city sidewalk, quarantined from nearby foot traffic. While neighbours sleep or are away at work, workers efficiently empty the bins. In many of the world’s cities, waste collection services take place this way – out of sight and mind–giving residents little reason to dwell on removal infrastructures, even encouraging mindless disposal of more waste.

To overlook this is a mistake. Even in places where waste removal services might appear functional, peeking behind the scenes reveals serious concerns including overflowing landfills, illegal dumping, methane, carbon dioxide and contaminated water sources. In fact, almost 40% of global waste is disposed of unsafely in open dump sites and more than half of the world’s population lacks access to regular waste collection services. The demand for waste removal infrastructures and services will drastically increase as populations become more urban and affluent.

While governments and municipalities build physical infrastructures like landfills, recycling facilities and incinerators, service designers can provide value in encouraging waste-reducing behaviours and by making infrastructures desirable. There is now an urgent need for service designers to work with local governing bodies to design local experiences for citizens and rubbish collectors alike.