Data Visualization of Plastic Waste Management Transparency

👤 Role: Team Lead ****🏷️Project Type: Data Visualization 🫂 Team Members: Deniz Sulmaz, Juliah S. Champion, Nate Nikokeza ****📅 Year: 2023 👤 Supervisor: Tiziana Alocci

Overview

T.R.A.S.H. is a data visualization project that exposes the reality of global plastic waste management. The project reveals how EU countries implement plastic waste policies domestically while simultaneously exporting toxic and non-recyclable plastic waste to developing countries, creating an illusion of sustainability while merely relocating the problem.

Key Objectives:

• Raise awareness about the global plastic waste crisis
• Visualize the flow of plastic waste from EU countries to Turkey
• Expose the economic incentives behind waste trafficking
• Illustrate what happens to exported waste in recipient countries
• Connect viewers to actionable solutions through vforhuman.org
• Emphasize collective responsibility in addressing waste management

TRASH_DENIZ-SULMAZ_PRESENTATION.pdf

Challenge

The global plastic waste crisis is often hidden from consumers through policies that create an illusion of proper waste management. Most people are unaware that their carefully sorted recycling may be shipped overseas where it creates environmental and health disasters in developing countries. There's a critical lack of transparency in how waste moves globally and what happens to it.

Solution

We created a compelling data visualization that tracks the journey of plastic waste from EU countries to Türkiye and beyond, quantifying both the volume and economic value of this waste trade. By visualizing these hidden flows and connecting them to their environmental and social impacts, we make visible what is deliberately kept invisible, empowering viewers to demand more responsible solutions.

Process & Methodology

Our approach followed a user-centered design process:

Research & Data Collection

• Gathered statistics on EU countries' waste management policies
• Researched export volumes of plastic waste from EU to Turkey
• Collected data on the economic value of waste imports for Turkey
• Investigated the environmental and social impacts in recipient communities
• Analyzed the disconnect between public perception and reality of waste management

Conceptual Development

• Explored various approaches to visualizing waste flows
• Developed a narrative structure that follows plastic from source to destination
• Created sketches and wireframes for different visualization concepts
• Defined key messages and emotional journey for viewers