Subject Area: Environmental Humanities

This course allows a multi-dimensional study of waste. We will consider the history, politics, psychology, philosophy, sociology and cultural implications of the wastes generated by human society. Dimensions and topics include: life cycles of materials, how we make knowledge about waste, the social implications of waste management technologies, 'legacy' issues and the 'colonisation of the future' by wastes.
Our waste stream examples will include plastics, water and sewage, nuclear materials, industrial sea dumping, trade in toxic wastes, domestic landfill, wastes from construction, mining, agriculture and the military, and the creation of 'wastelands' and contaminated sites. We will seek out solutions to the generation of wastes and ways to manage wastes, through studying the precautionary principle, environmental justice, international waste conventions and treaties, and regulatory and community responses to waste.
The course will make use of creative 'visioning exercises' to explore alternative futures for waste and society.