Welcome!

This thesis* explores residential waste management in urban core areas. Using Providence, RI as my study city, I address the challenges that urban core areas face in managing garbage. More specifically, I question the means by which the City and related entities communicate to urban core residents about garbage and recycling. I conducted a case study in one of Providence's central neighborhoods, in order to better understand the patterns found when studying waste management. I also wanted to test out the effectiveness of specific communication policies for these areas.
The Executive Summary gives a brief overview of the process and key findings of the study.
To see the site in more detail, I encourage you to explore the following links.

Thesis Background: A brief introduction to how this project came to be and the central questions invoved.

The Urban Challenge: An exploration of waste management problems and challenges faced by residents of urban core and inner city areas.

In Providence, RI: The state of garbage and recycling programs and practices in the city.

Case Study, Smith Hill: Methods and results of a neighborhood specific experiment in communicating to urban core residents.

Conclusions and Recommendations: A discussion of the relevance and possible applications for the City of Providence and other urban centers.

* This project was undertaken in partial fulfillment of a B.A. in Environmental Studies, from the Center for Environmental Studies at Brown University .