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A Season for Plastics: Polyethylene Times in Blantyre, Malawi.

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Title: A Season for Plastics: Polyethylene Times in Blantyre, Malawi.
Authors: Ringel, Felix (AUTHOR), Chilobwe, Henry (AUTHOR)
Source: Social Analysis. 2025, Vol. 69 Issue 3, p24-40. 17p.
Subjects: Polyethylene, Seasons, Plastic products manufacturing, Waste recycling, Economic impact
Geographic Terms: Blantyre (Malawi)
Abstract: This article examines the temporal complexity of polyethylene plastics in Blantyre, Malawi. As the location of the country's main plastic manufacturers, all kinds of plastics flow through the city. However, various non-plastic times intersect with these flows, from rainy seasons to the sowing of maize, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and the availability of fertilizer. Movements of local plastics thereby fluctuate according to other times and rhythms. Recycled plastics, for example, are harvested, washed, dried, crushed, packed, and resold at some times of the year and not others, depending on various economic, political, social, and cultural factors. The resulting seasonality of plastics underlines that they are deeply embedded in the ever-changing complexities of social life, co-constituting contested socio-economic presents with their unique temporal and material qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Social Analysis is the property of Berghahn Books and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: A Season for Plastics: Polyethylene Times in Blantyre, Malawi.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ringel%2C+Felix%22">Ringel, Felix</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chilobwe%2C+Henry%22">Chilobwe, Henry</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polyethylene%22">Polyethylene</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seasons%22">Seasons</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plastic+products+manufacturing%22">Plastic products manufacturing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Waste+recycling%22">Waste recycling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+impact%22">Economic impact</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Blantyre+%28Malawi%29%22">Blantyre (Malawi)</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This article examines the temporal complexity of polyethylene plastics in Blantyre, Malawi. As the location of the country's main plastic manufacturers, all kinds of plastics flow through the city. However, various non-plastic times intersect with these flows, from rainy seasons to the sowing of maize, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and the availability of fertilizer. Movements of local plastics thereby fluctuate according to other times and rhythms. Recycled plastics, for example, are harvested, washed, dried, crushed, packed, and resold at some times of the year and not others, depending on various economic, political, social, and cultural factors. The resulting seasonality of plastics underlines that they are deeply embedded in the ever-changing complexities of social life, co-constituting contested socio-economic presents with their unique temporal and material qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Social Analysis is the property of Berghahn Books and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192604142
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3167/sa.2025.690302
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 24
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Polyethylene
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Seasons
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Plastic products manufacturing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Waste recycling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic impact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Blantyre (Malawi)
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: A Season for Plastics: Polyethylene Times in Blantyre, Malawi.
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              Text: 2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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            – TitleFull: Social Analysis
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