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Professor Nicky Gregson (Department of Geography, University of Sheffield)
Professor Louise Crewe (School of Geography, University of Nottingham)
Dr Alan Metcalfe (Department of Geography, University of Sheffield)
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (2003 – 5) and based in the Universities of Sheffield and Nottingham, this research is a qualitative investigation of `household divestment´ in the UK; or, in plain terms, the consumer objects that households get rid of, how, where and why.
The research casts considerable doubt on the purchase of the `throwaway society´. It shows that making things waste is merely one route amongst many by which people get rid of their things. People give things away, passing them on to friends and to family, to charity shops and to community sales. They try to sell things they no longer want, via car boot sales, eBay and through local advertisements. And they just hold on to them, so unwanted things linger around, in lofts, cellars, garages and outbuildings. The research shows that wasting things is strongly connected to key social relations and identities. For example, we throw things away when they fail to connect with our understanding of who we are and who we might want to be, and because those whom we live with insist that we do. Making waste of consumer objects is also shown to be strongly connected to moving house and to major home improvements.
The research was graded as `outstanding´ in ESRC´s peer review process. For further information about this research, contact Professor Nicky Gregson (n.gregson@shef.ac.uk or 0114 222 7943).
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