How can we establish nurturing and circular relationships for informal settlements and allow regenerative ecosystems to envision urban mining processes from the city environment?
In the face of the growing challenge of urban waste, especially within rapidly expanding informal settlements projected to house over 45% of the global population by 2050 (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2022), innovative solutions are imperative. The thesis proposes a paradigm shift towards urban mining, emphasizing the significant value embedded in discarded electronics—where a tonne of circuit boards can hold ten times more precious metals than traditional ore (Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, 2022). The global distribution of off-shored e-waste has led to the emergence of informal settlements that depend on e-waste recovery to support livelihoods and income generation. These communities have become prime examples for urban mining, embracing circular economic strategies to find adaptive ways to repurpose e-waste.
Accra, Ghana’s Old Fadama, home to one of the largest e-waste sites in the world, has become a vital economic hub for informal e-waste processing. With a population of over 100,000 dwellers, local and migrant workers have built resilient communities through innovative recycling practices, tech repairs, and DIY digital fabrication methods. However, they face imminent environmental risks, health hazards, and displacement threats.
Focusing on Old Fadama, the thesis addresses the narratives of urban mining communities and looks toward a systematic sympoiesis between economic, environmental, and social realities. As an integrated field research, case study, and implementation, the thesis conducts key urban analysis for understanding e-waste sites and urban mining communities; identifies technology interventions and policy recommendations that can improve local conditions; and utilizes data-driven communication to advocate for new opportunities for urban systems tied to e-waste extraction through immersive multimedia as part of a public exhibition.