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Abstract:
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"Through the study of informal practices of waste management, this paper highlights the importance of recognizing informal
practices and integrating the 'research by design' as a tool in the process of formalization of those practices as 'commons'.
The first part exposes the issues of solid waste management in Mexico City and explains the key role played by an informal
community of waste pickers. The second part focuses on the societal and environmental impacts of the community regarding
new land expulsion threats. Based on the diagnosis of this study, the third part explores and compares the spatial
implementations of three distinctive scenarios based respectively on a public, private and commons management model. To
conclude, the study highlights the potential benefits of the 'research by design' when securing and formalizing informal
practices as 'commons'.
The rapid and massive urban growth in Mexico City has considerably widened the gap between the supply of services and
the demand for infrastructures such as waste management, particularly in the informal settlement areas. As a result, informal
waste pickers have filled the gap left by the government to provide residents with better solid waste management. In the
municipality of Nezahualcóyotl, an open-air garbage area has become a place to work and a place of living, self-managed by
the local community. By collecting, sorting and reselling waste, the informal community secures their livelihood, reduces the
quantity of garbage and consolidates the waste infrastructure overlooked by the authorities.
Nevertheless, land pressure for the development of new projects, the growing awareness for ecological waste treatment and
the modernization of the recycling sector in Mexico are putting the whole system in danger. The ability of the informal
community to adapt their work to new circumstances and to face turbulent changes is poor.
Referring to the above facts, the study outlines three alternative scenarios. The first alternative follows land trends, the
second one gives preferential for public-private partnership and the last one integrates the informal community and public
stakeholders within a more common approach. A comparative analysis identifies the third scenario as the most valuable to
improve solid waste management and to secure the socio-economic environment of the waste-pickers community.
Ultimately, the design investigation provides concrete illustration on how to put the "commons" scenario into action, using
small-scale projects strategically implemented within the municipality area of Nezahualcóyotl.
The study concludes by pointing out the necessity to develop a closer collaboration between informal communities of wastepickers,
residents and the municipality. Within this process, the ‘research by design’ is considered as a useful tool of
mediation. Furthermore, through the comparison of alternative scenarios and the exploration of their spatial implementation,
‘research by design’ provides concrete, objective and prospective basis for the development of commons governance."
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