Urban Mining

When recycling silver and gold seems evident and has been around for decades, how can the practice be applied to other materials, what organisations and which individuals are already facilitating or exploring this approach, and what could we as artists, makers and designers change as part of our practices in order to become, and more importantly think like ‘Urban Miners’ re-valuing waste materials, critically reflecting on appropriation and being mindful of the longevity of our own work. In history, perhaps through necessity, re-use was common, and archaeologists have found many examples of ‘Urban Mining’ in history. As reflecting on the past can be insightful, Sofie is joined by archaeologist Dr Carlotta Gardner who has been investigating a range of archaeological materials including ceramics, metals, glass, and waste materials associated with these respective industries. They talk about her fascination for the subject, her career to date and her thoughts on Urban Mining.