Caretakers as mediators in household waste separation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Caretakers as mediators in household waste separation

AU - Petersen, Lars Kjerulf

PY - 2021/11

Y1 - 2021/11

N2 - This article explores the role of building caretakers in waste handling and in the application of source separation schemes. The topic is approached through the concept of mediators (or intermediaries). It is discussed with reference to both transition theory and ANT how mediators must be perceived in terms of not only transition agents, instigating change, but also in terms of stabilization, local embedding and maintenance of (relatively) stable socio-technical configurations. Based on mainly qualitative studies, the waste mediating role of caretakers’ work is explored and it is demonstrated how caretakers through a constant flow of interventions seek to maintain the stability of their buildings, i.e. the stability of the buildings’ flux of people and materials. As part of their continuous effort to keep their buildings’ infrastructures functional and keep their communal and recreational spaces as pleasant as possible, they take steps to integrate source separation into the flow of the building’s daily operations, making sure that it runs smoothly, yet also seeking to optimize the quality of source separation.

AB - This article explores the role of building caretakers in waste handling and in the application of source separation schemes. The topic is approached through the concept of mediators (or intermediaries). It is discussed with reference to both transition theory and ANT how mediators must be perceived in terms of not only transition agents, instigating change, but also in terms of stabilization, local embedding and maintenance of (relatively) stable socio-technical configurations. Based on mainly qualitative studies, the waste mediating role of caretakers’ work is explored and it is demonstrated how caretakers through a constant flow of interventions seek to maintain the stability of their buildings, i.e. the stability of the buildings’ flux of people and materials. As part of their continuous effort to keep their buildings’ infrastructures functional and keep their communal and recreational spaces as pleasant as possible, they take steps to integrate source separation into the flow of the building’s daily operations, making sure that it runs smoothly, yet also seeking to optimize the quality of source separation.

KW - Household waste

KW - SDGCircularEconomy

KW - actor-network theory

KW - caretakers

KW - intermediaries

KW - mediators

KW - source separation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105135420&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/1523908X.2021.1921567

DO - 10.1080/1523908X.2021.1921567

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1523-908X

VL - 23

SP - 796

EP - 808

JO - Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning

JF - Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning

IS - 6

ER -