Dis/appearing waste and afterwards

Abstract This article studies how illegally dumped matter becomes collectively identified waste associated with broader environmental, social, economic and political issues. Spaces of visualization, embodiment and circulation play a key role in these processes. Besides theoretical discussion on the emergence of waste, this article focuses on the collective environmental action “Let’s Do It!” (Teeme Ara!) in Estonia and its litter/waste collection event. An unidentified matter was made into a singular, visible and affective waste; an environmental clean-up event was then performed and awareness about the environmental problems and possible solutions were diffused. In this process, interactive information and communication technologies were important.

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