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Wardens of Waste
An exhibition on Bangalore’s waste ecosystem
Presented by Quicksand Design Studio with inputs from Hasiru Dala, AIW and several other field workers from Bangalore’s waste ecosystem
This exhibition seeks to uncover the networks, actors and structures that span the blurry lines between formal and informal systems of waste management in Bangalore. Using objects to represent complex organisations and relationships, the project gathers together a selection of artifacts used by waste pickers as well as a series of stories that accompany them.
Bangalore generates approximately 3,000 tons of solid waste per day. This waste is transported, segregated and further transported through the system. In recent years, the government has been trying to formalize the waste management system, but the approach has been top-down. Fewer people are now employed, while the workload has remained the same.
The informal and formal waste labour systems in Bangalore are intertwined. Local wards are managed by different private contractors, each with slightly different operating procedures and recycling processes. Waste management in Bangalore is best characterised by a complex medley of interconnected subsystems. A lack of consistency throughout these subsystems leads to many complexities and cracks, often filled by informal labourers.
This work was also part of an exhibition curated and produced by STBY Netherlands for the Dutch Design Week 2019.
