In My Backyard is an augmented reality experience that seeks to raise awareness about the growing trash problem in the US by bringing the problem to your backyard in augmented reality.

The Basel Convention, signed by 187 countries, including many in Europe, Africa, and Asia, is a global treaty designed to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries. Notably, the United States is one of the few countries that have not signed the convention, which has had serious implications for the global environment. With developing countries finally denying taking in trash of the US, the US soon will have to deal with it’s own trash problem.

The premise of the app is simple: as you walk through the space, you are bombarded by a rain of trash falling from above. As the user walks around, they will be surrounded by falling objects representing the objects we covet and consume in our daily lives, transformed into aesthetically pleasing, shiny objects. The trash follows you wherever you go, piling up around you and obstructing your view, creating an unsettling and claustrophobic sensation that emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the trash problem.

The falling objects do not disappear or get destroyed. Instead, the app becomes overloaded with objects and eventually crashes. This is a representation of the fact that there is no real solution to handling waste that can only be at the individual hands literally. The only possible solution would be national policy changes.

In My Backyard is not just an app; it's a performative piece that encourages viewers to question their assumptions, think critically about their actions, and imagine a better future. It is an invitation to join a larger conversation about environmental sustainability and social justice, and to take steps towards a more responsible and equitable world.