Rebecca Smith

Recycling, Zero Waste, Remote and Rural Communities, Community Development

My main research interest is in the area of waste recycling, sustainable community development and community empowerment. I have received a research grant to cover the cost of PHD research into the research question: Is there a Sustainable Future for Recycling in Remote and Rural Communities? This research is exploring how remote and rural places can respond to government policies of zero waste. Zero waste policies set out government visions for zero waste societies. With the mind-set generated by zero waste policies, waste is a valuable resource which can generate revenues. Such policies recognise that adopting zero waste approaches means changing the way we look at waste so that we see it as a resource, not a problem.

My research is investigating whether rural communities are able to adopt this attitude to waste? Are revenues generated from waste in rural settings? If so, to who are these revenues generated? Is there potential in localising recycling capacities and empowering remote and rural communities through waste?

The aims of this research are:

• To investigate the specific barriers for recycling in remote and rural places 
• To explore what options exist for a sustainable recycling future in remote and rural locations. 
• To explore the potential for small-scale local closed pipe recycling solutions in remote and rural places. 
• To explore the potential for strengthening waste prevention and reuse polices in remote and rural settings.

Module Leadership - I provide the lead for modules on both the undergraduate BSc Sustainable Development programme, and the postgraduate MSc Sustainable Development programme, UHI. These modules include: