Module manager: Dr Noleen R. Chikowore
Email: N.R.Chikowore@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
GPA of 2.5 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university
This module is not approved as a discovery module
You probably know where your mobile phone was made, but do you know where it goes when you throw it “away”? In this module, we interrogate what waste is, how, why and to whom it matters (Gregson et al. 2010) [1], as another person’s trash is another person’s treasure. The module aims to provide insight into the complexities of how waste and wasting is often rooted in cultural, historical, and political practices and considers waste production, disposal and management as highly dynamic. It emphasises the need for a paradigm shift in perceiving and managing waste. Topics may include the discourses and practices in foodscapes, plastic waste, fast fashions, informal labours of waste and global toxic waste circulations. We will draw from multi-disciplinary approaches such as social and environmental justice, political ecologies of waste, waste livelihoods, circular economy, waste-based social movements, zero-waste philosophies and global waste circulations. Such approaches ensure that students are well-prepared to understand and tackle the multifaceted challenges of waste in diverse contexts. [1] Gregson, N., Crang, M., Ahamed, F., Akhter, N., & Ferdous, R. (2010). Following things of rubbish value: End-of-life ships, ‘ chock-chocky’ furniture and the Bangladeshi middle-class consumer. Geoforum, 41(6), 846-854.
The module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how different forms of waste (e.g., food, electronics, clothing, plastic, etc.) are dynamic cultural, historical, and political phenomena to give insights into the nexus of environment and development. They will learn how waste production, disposal and management intersect with our everyday lives and ethical issues. Students will learn historic and contemporary geographies of waste, from informal recyclers in some parts of North and South America to toxic and plastic waste exports in African and Asian countries to reuse, repair, and care cafes in Europe and other parts of the world. They are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to interrogate the diverse and dramatic world of waste through various learning activities, such as lectures, guest speakers, field trips, independent work, group work, presentations, and group seminar discussions.
On successful completion of the module, students will have achieved the following subject specific learning outcomes:
1. Critically analyse the discourses and practices of ‘geographies of the waste’ in different contexts from the Global South and North.
2. Articulate concepts and histories of development in relation to, consumption and disposal politics in diverse geographic contexts.
3. Apply interdisciplinary perspectives such as circular justice, critical sustainability, urban political ecology, and social and environmental justice to unpack our relationship to waste.
4. Assess the implications and ethical considerations of circular economy transitions on various stakeholders.
On successful completion of the module, students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Analyse how different modes of communication (such as text, film, blogs, etc.) communicate the politics and realities of waste and sustainability differently. (Academic)
6. Work effectively individually and as part of a team and engage in collaborative problem-solving (Work Ready, Sustainability)
7. Organise, produce and communicate outputs in a variety of written and oral formats (Work Ready, Digital, Technical)
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Seminar | 8 | 3 | 24 |
| Independent online learning hours | 15 | ||
| Private study hours | 43 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 42 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Seminar sessions will help students understand the learning material and prepare for assessments. Students will meet with the instructor to discuss their group presentation idea and receive verbal formative feedback before the final presentation. When they present their project, they will receive verbal and peer feedback informing their second assessment. After week 1, a dedicated scaffolding workshop for the critical film essay /podcast summative assessment will be held. Students will receive feedback on their proposed ideas before final submission.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Case study group presentation | 20 |
| Coursework | Critical film review essay or Podcast | 80 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 2/3/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team