Awareness and Attitude of Students towards Municipal Solid Waste Management to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals - A Case Study

Abstract

The generation of large volumes of municipal solid waste is a major issue of concern. As municipal authorities struggle for its appropriate management, it has been realized that the issue cannot be addressed through technology alone and that public participation is a key factor for success, especially concerning waste segregation, reuse, and recycling at source. It has also been realized that students can play a major role in taking this forward in society and contribute towards achieving long-term sustainable development goals. However, this is possible only if they are aware, have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude, and are motivated to adopt environmentfriendly practices. The present study was conducted at Pushpa Gujral Science City, Punjab, with school students, both, from rural and urban areas, who visited Science City during the study period to assess their perception, understanding, and behaviour towards environment and sustainable development, with a focus on municipal solid waste management. A questionnaire-based approach was adopted. The study indicates that though awareness levels are adequate, especially among high and higher secondary school students, however, adoption of appropriate practices and participatory action is urgently required. Though 80% of respondents agreed to the collective responsibility of government and public for municipal solid waste management (especially w.r.t. reduction in the volume of waste generated and source segregation), however, >10% believed that they could not contribute at the individual level. This points out the need for an attitudinal change. Further, 10% of the urban students also informed that they had initiated waste segregation at the household level but it was discontinued because the garbage collectors remixed the waste in their waste collection carts. The family structure had no significant impact (p>0.05) on household-level waste management practices. Knowledge about Sustainable Development Goals among students is also abysmally low (4%). The study has brought out that certain government programs have percolated to the grassroots to some extent which has contributed towards improving awareness levels. No significant variation was observed among urban and rural students. The study points out the need for further generation of data across various economic groups to help to design intensive targeted programs.