Editors’ introduction

In this chapter the authors explore stakeholders’ understanding of what to do with organic waste within the United Kingdom. They discuss two projects that were both commissioned and funded under the same government research programme specifically to support policymaking. Although looking at the same broad environmental sustainability issue of how to treat organic waste as a resource to be exploited rather than a waste product to be disposed of, the two projects use mapping and involve participants in different ways. Both projects also highlight how the use of quantitative survey data is informed by, and in turn informs, the use of diagrams within the overall methodology. The authors also look at these projects through the different ways diagrams can be used that were discussed in Chapter Two.

Introduction

Throughout the 20th century, particularly in developed countries, the use of organic waste, either from food production, processing and consumption, or of green waste from gardening and horticulture was dominated by either very local reuse (for example, household composting, spreading of cow manure on farm land); burning (incineration) or disposal into landfill sites; or feeding to animals, particularly pigs. While very local reuse still continues to some degree today, there has been concern from scientists, environmentalists and policymakers over the contribution of both burning and landfill to emissions of green house gases and leachates. This, among other issues, has led in the past 20 years to a growing range of statutory requirements, notably within the European Union (EU), to reuse and recycle more organic waste rather than send it to landfill. Further, livestock diseases, such as foot and mouth outbreaks caused by poorly treated/contaminated foodstuffs, have led to tighter regulations on the treatment and disposal of animal by-products within the EU. Similarly, significant changes in the practices and habits of food production, processing and consumption have influenced the public's and politicians’ perspectives on what to do about food waste, with policy and practice on reducing and recycling waste in a more sustainable manner occurring at household, community, regional, national and international levels.

This chapter draws on our experiences in two projects of contrasting scope and scale but both focused on organic wastes and where the use of mapping techniques was a central or key part of the research process and the research outcomes.