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library.bib
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file = {/Users/Rosa/Zotero/storage/LTRYTQS2/charles-r-acland-residual-media_pdf -- Xerox WorkCentre 5655 -- fd5e0a915ed3fdf92f48da0ca8009c71 -- Anna’s Archive-1.pdf}
}
@techreport{baldeGlobalEWasteMonitor,
title = {The {{Global E-Waste Monitor}} 2024},
author = {Bald{\'e}, Cornelis P. and Kuehr, Ruediger and Yamamoto, Tales and McDonald, Rosie and D'Angelo, Elena and Althaf, Shahana and Bel, Garam and {Fernandez-Cubillo}, Elena and Forti, Vanessa and Gray, Vanessa and Herat, Sunil and Honda, Shunichi and Iattoni, Giulia and Khetriwal, Deepali S. and di Cortemiglia, Vittoria Luda and Lobuntsova, Yuliya and Nnorom, Innocent and Wagner (2024), Michelle and Bald{\'e}, Cornelis P. and {International Telecommunication Union (ITU)} and {United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)}},
institution = {International Telecommunication Union (ITU)},
annotation = {titleTranslation: THE GLOBAL E-WASTE MONITOR 2024},
file = {/Users/Rosa/Zotero/storage/WGS4GDYK/GEM_2024_EN_11_NOV-web.pdf}
}
@article{batesSocialLifeMusical2012,
title = {The {{Social Life}} of {{Musical Instruments}}},
author = {Bates, Eliot},

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<cite>(Solderpunk, 2020, Cited in de Valk, 2022)</cite>
You’re reading[^shortcut-print] *A Field Guide for Salvaging Sound Devices*. Here we'll explore the practical side of salvage computing: is it possible to *live off* (create with) electronic components salvaged in the wild? And what would such a practice entail?
You’re reading[^shortcut-print] *A Field Guide for Salvaging Sound Devices*. Here we'll explore the practical side of salvage computing: is it possible to *live off* (create with) electronic components salvaged in the wild? And what would such a practice entail? Instead of using hardware to build even more computers, we are focussing on creating dreamy drones sound boxes.
Salvaging is the act of making use of computational resources that already exists, however, not in hardware stores or pre-filled webshop carts, but on landfills and hidden away in storage boxes. According to Jennifer Gabrys, salvaging is not just about re-using materials, but also about confronting the systems that created the waste in the first place. [@gabrysSalvage2012]. Because waste is not just that what is discarded[^discarded], but also about hazardous waste sites in Silicon Valley [@calmaWomenWhoMade2025]and in developing countries where to this date we in the Netherlands ship our waste to, about the waste that is created when creating new parts and components in said factories.
Salvaging is the practice of using computational resources that already exist. Not freshly purchased hardware, but salvaged from landfills and hidden in storage boxes. According to the E-Waste Monitor, our e-waste production is growing rapidly, and even doubling between 2010 and 2022. However, the rate at which the waste is collected and recycled is not growing at the same rate, resulting in landfills that just keep growing and growing.[@baldeGlobalEWasteMonitor]
According to Jennifer Gabrys, salvage is not just about reusing materials, but also about confronting the systems that created the waste in the first place [@gabrysSalvage2012]. Waste is not created trough consumer discards, but a by product of all the steps from mining the minerals needed in hardware to disposal. These actions material transisitions take place in hazardous waste sites that cause major long-term environmental and health problems [@calmaWomenWhoMade2025], often in developing countries where technology consumption is much lower.
The growing gap between recycling and production is explained by our increased consumption of technology, limited repair options and lack of e-waste infrastructure.
A big reason for this increasing amount of waste is, surprise surprise, the amount of technology that is being created. My *innovative* electric tooth has bluetooth. And with issues like a lack of repairability possibilities, topping it off with a sniff technological obsolescence, more on that later but it causes us to want shiny new instead of used and old, you’ll get an hazardous e-waste cocktail that is difficult to swallow.
[^discarded]: Een fact over hoeveel er weg wordt gegooid
[^shortcut-print]: <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>P</kbd> to print this document
This notion of buying new is visible in the DIY Synth community as well [^GAS]. When publishing about a project it’s common practice to share a pre-filled webshop cart along with the schematics, or even sold as a KIT[^KIT]. These pre-made lego-like sets not only causes us as students to buy new parts out of convenience, but by only publishing the *solution*, and not discussing the design process and it’s challenges, we are not developing the much needed problem solving skills [@CooperativeExperimentalismSharing]. To me, this goes against a core ethos of DIY, where you make with a limited budget and a lack of resources[@hertzArtDIYElectronics2023]. Because what if that one ultra important part is no longer produced?
This notion of buying new is visible in the DIY Synth community as well [^GAS]. When publishing about a project it’s common practice to share a pre-filled webshop cart along with the schematics, or even sold as a KIT[^KIT]. To me, this goes against a core ethos of DIY, where you make do a limited budget resources [@hertzArtDIYElectronics2023]. Instead, a whole new market is created of buying pre-made lego-like kits, that do not talk about the creative process of building and brush over the difficulty of electronics, causing us not to develo-p the much needed problem solving skills [@CooperativeExperimentalismSharing].
[^GAS]: Iets over GAS en de trans furry YouTuber
[^KIT]: Example of a kit
<ins>Feedback: Leg dit uit voor de lezer, hoe verhoud jouw verhaal zich tot de 'systems that created the waste in the first place'? Dit kan terugkomen in je laatste hoofdstuk (reflectie)</ins>
This is where my interpretation of salvaging could come into play.
”Salvage computing believes that the end of a computer product’s lifecycle should be seen as a moment of celebration”[@lulinvegaHolisticApproachComputing]. Instead of noting down a time of death, the obsolete device could be the start of something new. Trough this thesis & project, I want to challenge my own idea that buying new hardware is quicker then salvaging for hardware. This thesis will be a field guide for the salvaging from- and reusing of abandoned/obsolete media, to create sound devices.
The guide is split up into four chapters describing the different stages of salvaging for sound devices:
1. Gathering hardware
1. Gathering hardware
*We’ll go through which devices work best for salvaging, where can they be found, dealing with hording, hidden waste streams*
2. Dismantling devices
*Tools & tricks for dismantling devices and breaking it down into smaller parts, dealing with strategies companies employ to keep you out of their devices*
3. Components to salvage
*An overview of parts, where they are, how to reuse them, and the difficulties that come along with it*
4. Recipes for making
*Strategies for re-making with salvaged parts*
5. *extra* Buy in bulk > wat te doen met je nieuwe zooi? => reflectie
<ins>Feedback: aangeven per hoofdstuk waar het over gaat</ins>
*Cleaning up afterward, a look back into if this was actually a good idea.*
## Do It With Others (DIWO)
Within the DIY Sound community, DIWO workshops are a common way of sharing knowledge [@richardsDIYElectronicMusic2013], similarly to repair, which is a historically social activity, where skills are passed by the generations. Fixing your bike is a very dad type thing. By joining & hosting workshops and gatherings around repair and repurposing, I’ve noticed how empowering it can be to take back this autonomy. This guide itself is created during and around so-called *(un)repair nights[^unrepair-night]* at the klankschool[^about-klankschool]. I would really encourage you to do DIWO this guide too. The frustrating process that can be learning electronics is much better to manage when shared.
@ -52,5 +54,15 @@ Within the DIY Sound community, DIWO workshops are a common way of sharing knowl
On that note, I am by no means and expert in electronics. When I write about how things work, please take it with a grain of salt. It's 'my' logic, and i'm sure it's full of incorrect assumptions. If you have improvements, feel free to reach out, or create a pull request with your improvements.
# To fix
<ins>positiviere angle repair van [@jacksonRethinkingRepair2014]</ins>
## Oud
<ins>Feedback: er staat nu nog niets over how to print</ins>
<ins>Opruimen die handel!</ins>
Dit kan weg? A big reason for this increasing amount of waste is, surprise, the amount of technology being created. My *innovative* electric tooth has Bluetooth. And with issues like lack of repairability, topped off with a whiff of technological obsolescence (more on that later), but it causes us to want shiny new instead of used and old, you get a hazardous e-waste cocktail that's hard to swallow.