Awareness and Responsiveness Level on Proper Waste Segregation at San Pedro Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Proper waste management has the task of reducing litter and promoting recycling and reusing activities. Each of these activities requires some behavioral change on the part of the public. The vital means for attaining this change is public awareness education. In many cases, solid waste management does not have to "reinvent the wheel." Public education and involvement in solid waste management do not have to be extremely costly. With this, the school plays an important role in disseminating information about the proper disposal of garbage. It is the best outlet to promote awareness of proper waste management. Pupils need to be conscious of sustaining the importance of waste management. With this regard, this study aims to determine the level of awareness and responsiveness of pupils on proper waste management. The output of this study will propose different activities and actions on managing a large amount of waste inside the school premises.

METHODS

This is a descriptive type of research which aimed to determine the level of awareness and responsiveness of pupils on waste management. The researcher used data gathering procedures which include survey method and retrospective interview. The following data gathering tools -checklist and interview guide -were used to attain the objectives of this study. A survey questionnaire was prepared, validated, distributed, tallied and interpreted to determine the level of awareness and responsiveness of pupils on proper waste management. A retrospective interview followed after accomplishing the survey questionnaire to validate and confirm the responses given by the pupils.

RESULTS

Results show that in terms of recycling, the respondents are aware that the garbage can be recycled but they lacked the knowledge of what and when to recycle materials. It also shows that the importance of waste segregation is known by the respondents but they cannot distinguish that biodegradable trash will not be decomposed in just a year. When it comes to waste disposal, the respondents know where todisposed waste but they still throw their garbage anywhere in the school. It is evident that there is a need to design activities for the awareness and responsiveness of the pupils on proper waste management.

DISCUSSIONS

The results demonstrate the need for school improvement when it comes to waste disposal. The low level of awareness in terms of recycling, waste segregation, and waste disposal of pupils must be given much attention and it is recommended that the school should conduct lectures to promote awareness and responsiveness on proper waste management.