Whose Waste?

The project’s aim is to help us think differently about how we value our household waste and what we put in our wheelie bins. To reduce the amount of waste in dustbins and wheelie bins by shifting people’s consciousness through the application of artworks onto dustbin lorries. The artwork will be site specific to the dustbin lorry and the borough in which the vehicle works.

A temporary public art event, a publication and a series of paintings for the sides of dustbin lorries were created by working with households in Nuneaton and Bedworth throughout the process and to feature in the artwork. Working with refuse collectors and red box collectors, to examine how people in Nuneaton and Bedworth get rid of their waste.  

“Peoples bins feel like private spaces, the street feels like a place where I am on the precipice of observing something that doesn’t belong to me, yet it’s the reason for me being there.  The kerbside becomes the precipice of consciousness.  It is the line where waste stops being the publics responsibility.  If rubbish is personal, then the investigation should be intimate.” Alisha Miller

For the social engagement element of the project, the artist’s selected three very different areas in Nuneaton & Bedworth in which to work, area’s with high, low and an average rate of recyclers. The artists approached people directly and posted leaflets through their door to invite to them to participate in the project.  The results were good and people were friendly and interested. Working with selected households of recyclers and non recyclers, each helping each other to overcome genuine reasons to identify obstacles that prevent recycling and to look at waste as a valuable resource.  

With households that do recycle, we documented journeys of recycled products, discovered the creative systems they have in place and recorded hints and tips to helps others. The households who were involved in the project were featured in the final artworks.