Importance of Environmental Education in the Creation of Environmental Attitude and Behavior on Solid Waste Management

Abstract

When we can make emphasis on recycling and processing materials, that enough energy and materials are not available. Rapid population growth and excess urban development are a significant cause of the destruction of the environment and natural resources. To achieve sustainable development, the human need to manage the waste. One way to manage waste can be done through environmental education; of course, this possibility depends on a positive attitude in this regard. This is applied research. The semi-experimental research method was employed in this study, which was carried out using a pretest-posttest design involving control and experimental groups. The statistical population consisted of girls and boys in the sixth grade of two elementary schools, and a prepared questionnaire was employed as the tool for measuring the students' environmental attitude and behavior concerning the methods for less waste production, reuse, and recycling before and after the education program. The related experts and its reliability confirmed the validity of the questionnaire by Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.8. The students were taught topics on resources available in the world, the scarcity of these resources, and the methods for less waste production, reuse, and recycling. The obtained data was analyzed for the independent groups using Levene's test and T-test. Results indicated that there is a significant difference between the girls and boys' mean environmental attitude and behavior concerning less using and less waste production, reuse and recycling waste before and after the education program. Overall attitude and behavior levels of the girls and boys concerning the taught subjects increased after the education program. However, the environmental attitude and behavior level of the boys in this regard increased more compared to the girls.<strong></strong>