In collaboration with Sewing Cafe Lancaster and the Textile Dynamics Lab, Closing Loops commissioned local researcher and activist Victoria Frausin to help uncover where waste in North Lancashire ends up. Initially, the aim was to set out a picture of waste streams locally and to identify relevant leverage points where communities might intervene and develop projects to help close resource loops.
The work would also start to map the local repair and reuse economy. The initial research found that creating a map of all waste streams in the district was not viable given the complexity, lack of transparency from the waste management providers and the scale of the subject. The proportion of domestic waste produced is small in comparison to industrial and commercial waste and as individuals we live in systemic structures that produce waste and push us to create waste.
The research highlighted that community initiatives to address waste can help build a sense of agency; but it is important not to lose sight of the bigger picture of the production and consumption systems that are driving waste production. Following on from the initial mapping work, Victoria developed a series of workshops to engage local residents with waste and how things might be different.
