Publication

Abstract : Urbanization, Economic and demographic growth, have made waste management a major concern in suburban and rural areas of developing countries. In India, this challenge often weighs heavier on women, since they are traditionally in charge of this role in households. While technology has proved effective in addressing waste management-associated challenges, existing alternatives do not usually consider the perspective of women, although they are at the frontline of these challenges. This study utilizes a participatory and human-centred approach to understand how this challenge unfolds at the grassroots and then explores how technological solutions that are appropriate to the requirements of community women could be developed. Based on the understanding of the community pain points, a decentralized method, in the form of a compact garbage box to be installed in front of every house, is proposed. This creative and affordable solution facilitates the waste management coordination between households and municipality personnel, therefore contributing to a more sustainable community-level waste management.