Waste and its masquerades : on the production of urban natures in Kochi, India

Abstract

Waste management has been a focal point in ethnographic research, yet its aesthetic and ideological facets in shaping ‘urban nature’ have been largely overlooked. The article delves into a comparative study of two parks in Kochi, a South Indian city, examining the intersection of environmental aesthetics, infrastructural visibility, and the conceptualization of urban nature. Through this juxtaposition, the study elucidates how divergent waste management strategies reflect broader ideologies concerning urban environments and their role in urban development initiatives. The article posits that waste and its management are not peripheral elements in the urban experience of nature; rather, they are integral components that shape it.