Analysis and Measures to Improve Waste Management in Schools

Abstract

Assessing waste production in schools highlights the contribution of school children and school staff to the total amount of waste generated in a region, as well as any poor practices of recycling (the so-called separate collection of waste) in schools by the students, which could be improved through educational activities. Educating young people regarding the importance of environmental issues is essential, since instilling the right behavior in school children is also beneficial to the behavior of their families. The way waste management was carried out in different schools in Trento (northern Italy) was analyzed: a primary school, a secondary school, and three high schools were taken as cases of study. The possible influence of the age of the students and of the various activities carried out within the schools on the different behaviors in separating waste was also evaluated. The results showed that the production of waste did not only depend on the size of the institutes and on the number of occupants, but, especially, on the type of activities carried out in addition to the ordinary classes and on the habits of both pupils and staff. In the light of the results obtained, some corrective measures were proposed to schools, aimed at increasing the awareness of the importance of the right behavior in waste management by students and the application of good practices of recycling.

Experimental and Analytical Studies on the Utilization of Biowastes Available in an Educational Institution in India

“…Previous studies conducted in schools, for the implementation of biogas technologies for energy generation, encountered a few problems due to the difficulties in creating awareness among the students regarding waste management [19]. This issue has been easily tackled in this study because The biogas generated throughout a year can be used for various applications such as power generation, heating, cooling, lighting lamps, etc.…”

“…Most of the previous studies focused on the constant loading rate of biowaste to predict biogas generation. In an educational institution, the availability of biowaste varies based on student activities [19], and therefore intensive study for one full academic year is needed to predict the possibility of utilizing the energy generated from biowaste.…”

Energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in EU: proposals to assess the management performance under a circular economy perspective

“…At the moment the linear economy is being gradually replaced by the CE that aims towards a zero waste framework [12][13][14][15][16] The main factors that are underlying the bases of any sustainable waste management are the reliable and up-to-date information and their trends regarding the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the MSW stream, considering the demographic changes, the socio-economic and technological maturity, environmental policies, decision-makers and the interests of the parties involved in the process [17][18][19]. The most advanced and sustainable, Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems must maintain an equilibrium between the separately collected (SC) waste fractions and the Residual Municipal Solid Waste (RMSW), both of them being suitable for material and energy recovery.…”

Public Perceptions and Practices of Solid Waste Recycling in the City of Laramie in Wyoming, U.S.A.

“…Public engagement is recognized as critical to build a successful recycling program. Residents should be engaged in planning and pre-implementation to help them understand why a program is needed, how it will benefit them, and to encourage sustained participation and ownership in the program [8][9][10][11]. It also provides an opportunity for the stakeholders to discuss unseen problems, create a public consensus on issues, identify possible solutions, and uphold their commitment to the project [12].…”