Lockdown Artefacts: My Neighbour's Mementos

LOCKDOWN ARTEFACTS ~ MY NEIGHBOUR’S MEMENTOS

1 neighbour 18 weeks 13 collections 486 HDPE Bottle Caps 1.86 kg HDPE

HDPE

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1. Tom Moore completes 100 laps of his garden raising £25 million for NHS charities.

2. Loss of taste and smell confirmed as a symptom of COVID-19.

3. Restrictions on hospitality lifted.

4. Supply chains disrupted.

5. Vaccine trials begin.

6. Restrictions on supermarket supplies.

7. Cases of COVID-19 reported as falling.

8. Consumption of health drinks increases.

9.Non-essential retail opens.

10. Cummings Barnard Castle scandal unravels.

11. Lockdown restrictions impact activity.

12. Joe Wicks hosts final at home workout for the public.

13. NHS Track and Trace app trialled on Isle of Wight 14. Face masks become compulsory on public transport.

plastic drinks bottle 1 HDPE lid 1 HDPE collar 1 PET body 1 PP label

plastic milk bottle 1 HDPE lid 1 HDPE body 1 PP label

the collections

Shades of Green HDPE bottle caps 63g // 31 units Typical life span: 12 hours Most prominent between 15th June and 20th August 2020.

Shades of green plastic waste first emerged as lockdown restrictions in the UK eased. As access to a wider range of shops and activities grew, the range of colours did also including the appearance of shades of green from deep aquas through to vibrant grassy shades.

April 2020

August 2020

‘Don’t forget your mask!’

Shades of Mid Blue HDPE bottle caps 130g // 59 units Typical life span: 12 hours Despite these being the predominant shade collected before the pandemic, shades of mid-blue did not emerge until 22nd June 2020, peaking in mid-July and remaining in collections until August. Preferred brands have become once again more accessible as supply chains return to prelockdown norms as businesses opened up during July, bringing back shades of corn flower blues and deep primary

April 2020

August 2020

‘Queueing for Primark’

Shades of Dark Blue HDPE bottle caps 762g // 346 units Typical life span: 12 hours The most consistent and prominent shade throughout the period of collection. Deep navy shades have appeared in all but the first collection in early April. Although, this shade differs from the previous consistent mid-blue shades collected before the lockdown period, perhaps caused by a change in local supplier caused by supply chain changes as a result of the pandemic.

April 2020

August 2020

‘New Normal’

Shades of Purple HDPE bottle caps 15 units // 30g Typical life span: 12 hours A rare colour sighting in the collections made during the Summer of 2020. Only seen during the week of 25th May, shades reminiscent of a Cadbury Dairy Milk wrappers may have only appeared due to a possible change of location for buying the products during a more restricted time of the lockdown, as they did not appear again.

April 2020

August 2020

‘Barnard Castle’

Shades of Red HDPE bottle caps 40g // 23 units Typical life span: 12 hours Sporadically appearing across the period of collections, shades of letterbox reds have dipped in and out of circulation from my waste collections. perhaps a secondary supply, aside from the predominant sources throughout the lockdown.

April 2020

August 2020

‘Track & Trace’

White HDPE bottle caps & Milk bottle bodies 560g Typical life span: 12 hours- 120 hours White was also consistently present throughout the collection time, possibly a result of it’s source being long-life milk bottles during the early stages of lockdown, possibly due to visiting the shops less frequently and the need for food to last longer between visits. The white also comes from a vitamin drink seen throughout each collection, not seen pre-pandemic collections, which indicates a possible step to improve health at this time.

April 2020

August 2020

‘Sainsbury’s Slot’

Transparent and Transparent HDPE bottle caps + Milk Bottles 275g Typical life span: 12 hours-120 hours The transparent milk bottle bodies that make up the majority of the collections of transparent and frosted plastic only started to appear in late July, as businesses started to re-open after lockdown. It is possible that this increase in non-long life milk products was a result of more frequent trips to the shops, as measures relaxed and more frequent trips felt safer.

April 2020

August 2020

‘Substantial Meal’