The Invisible Life of Waste: Development of an Ethnography-based Solution for Waste Management in Households
Principal Investigator at ZRC SAZU
Dan Podjed, PhD-
Original Title
Nevidno življenje odpadkov: Razvoj etnografsko utemeljene rešitve za upravljanje z odpadki v gospodinjstvih
Project Team
Aleš Smrekar, PhD, Tatiana Bajuk Senčar, PhD, doc. dr. Jože Guna, Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, Katarina Polajnar Horvat, PhD, Jurij Fikfak, PhD, Saša Babič, PhD, dr. Alenka Bezjak Mlakar, CVS Mobile, Saša Poljak Istenič, PhD, Daša Ličen, PhD-
Project ID
L6-9364
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Duration
1 November 2018–31 October 2021 -
Lead Partner
-
Project Leader
ISN ZRC SAZU
-
Financial Source
Partners
CVS Mobile, informacijske rešitve, d.d., University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, GIAM ZRC SAZU
The main goal of the project is to develop an innovative IT solution that will help detect and visualise the production of waste in households as well as promote waste reduction. The development of the solution is based on people-centred and ethnography-based approaches and will begin with an analysis of waste management practices in six cities: Ljubljana (Slovenia), Graz (Austria), Trieste (Italy), Zagreb (Croatia), Oslo (Norway), and Dubai (UAE). The study provides insights into the lifestyles of “invisible” actors, e.g. sanitation workers, labourers at landfills, and people working in recycling facilities, while also accounting for local attitudes to waste. In addition, the study investigates waste as a relevant actor in global networks of production and consumption.
Phase 1: Preparation
m. 1–6: kick-off meeting; purchase of equipment; overview of existing studies; integration of methodology; project website
Phase 2: Research & Development
m. 7–12: research in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Trieste, Graz
m. 13–18: research in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Trieste, Graz (continued); recommendations for developers; development of the IT solution (smart trash can, smart waste containers)
m. 19–24: research in Oslo, Dubai; development and integration of the IT solution (smartphone app, online community)
Phase 3: Usability Testing
m. 25–30: testing and adaptation of user interface; additional research in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Trieste, Graz; functional prototype
Phase 4: Conclusion
m. 31–36: public presentation of the IT solution in Ljubljana; international conference; edited volume Invisible Life of Waste