Closing the Cycle. An Analysis of the Disposal Practice of Organic Waste in the City of Basel

Growing economic wealth and raising living standards lead to an increase in consumption and consequently result in an augmented waste generation. In light of a circular economy and the environmental, social and economic impacts connected to an improper management, a sustainable waste management is of crucial matter. Organic waste shows here a great scope for action. In Switzerland, around a third of municipal solid waste is organic waste. In the city of Basel, the current organic waste disposal methods seem to lack in efficiency, thus diminishing the citizen’s recycling participation. Against this backdrop, this master’s thesis will be concerned with the question of how the association Radschaft, which collects organic waste from households by e-cargo bicycles, contributes towards a change in the disposal practice of its users. To this end, a social practice theory approach combined with a conceptual framework to analyse interventions into practice will be applied. The analysis shows that Radschaft induces change in the organic waste disposal practice by, on the one hand, re-crafting material, competence and meaning elements and, on the other hand, by substituting the organic waste practice with a more sustainable one. Thus, Radschaft provides a convenient and practicable sustainable disposal alternative for its users. The association’s potential to provide an area-wide, exclusive organic waste collection for the entire city is dependent on future developments and integration of the waste management landscape in Basel as well as future funding possibilities.
Keywords: circular economy; sustainable waste management; organic waste recycling; organic waste disposal practice; bicycle curbside collection; re-crafting and substituting practices