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Abstract
In the changing landscape of solid waste issues, globalization of waste is becoming a growing concern for engineers. As issues like the amount of plastic in the ocean concern multiple cultures and countries, there is a need to study cultural nuances in relationship to waste behavior and waste generation. This study challenges current conceptual, methodological, and representational assumptions from an engineering perspective in order to navigate questions about the intricacies of waste generation in two different countries. The countries, the United States of America and Colombia, have plenty of differences when it comes to the type of waste and waste problems currently being addressed. Through the use of qualitative inquiry, this study highlights the way cultural differences make their way into waste beliefs and consequent behavior demonstrated in public spaces like the food court of two regional malls. As part of cultural traits, this study explores how history interlocks with waste creation, interaction, ambience, and behavior through the exploration of the postructural rhizome. Historical events, developments and personal history were found connected to current concepts of waste in both countries. In revealing exploration and connections, multi-dimensional models of historical development represented a new way to learn about waste history. Additionally, this study moves past specific group-blaming for waste creation showing parts of the cycle that make waste possible. Interaction with waste changes according to development and culture in different countries, as do assumptions and beliefs about the process of waste management. Some typical attitudes in each country present different levels of environmental consciousness that are worth noting in the final chapter of the document. In general, the writing style, theories, processes, and representation of this study challenges the way we conduct engineering research, but at the same time it offers a creative way to think outside the box of objectivity, replicability, and generalization.