Postcard reflection FIVE

Our morning expedition to Sham Shui Po took us to the site of our research project. Having already read up on it and begun collecting information for our tasks it was an enjoyable surprise at how much our workshop actually helped. Given two words to focus on (ours being PLASTIC and DENSITY) we explored the two in relation together: therefore what information plastic can give us in regards to density within the area, we also looked at the sheer scale of plastic and therefore the mountainous amounts of it. This in turn lead us onto the reuse of plastic in the area.

1. The streets are lined with plastic being sold (both first and second hand) as well as plastic rubbish that swamps the street corners pouring out of bins, or that’s cluttered together in a pile in the middle of the street as people rummage through it to find value. We found that because plastic was so noticeable as their primary source of material it therefore reflected the population of people as well. It’s a poor neighbourhood, and it’s got a high density of people.
2. The mountainous amounts of plastic were found everywhere as I said. Shops selling plastic goods (coat hangers, shoes or tools) also wrapped their goods in plastic, as well as protecting themselves from the rain in plastic. Furthermore, they were surrounded by plastic shop signs each vying for the attention of the customer.
3. And finally, the reuse of plastic. In our society we stick closely to the purpose of which an item has been made and commonly after that use we discard the product. A milk crate in Sham Shui Po though is reused as a bicycle box, a polystyrene container used to protect a speaker from the rain.

But that’s not the only crazy thing we noticed here, in a place where there is no 50c charge for your plastic bag, and there looks to be no interest further than money in preserving plastic, we came across this organic little area made from plants and plastic bottles and where design seems to have been the only motive rather than monetary.