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Impacts of environmental

education based on the

classification of household

solid waste

Impactos de la educación ambiental

basado en la clasificación de los

residuos sólidos domésticos

Betty González Osorio

Mariela Díaz Ponce

Byron Oviedo Bayas

Norma Guerrero

Abstract

In Quevedo, the Guayacán parish is known for its commercial

activity in the residential area, waste disposal does not include

* Master's Degree, Quevedo State Technical University.

Campus "Ingeniero Manuel Agustín Haz Álvarez",

Av. Quito km. 1 1/2 via Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

bgonzalez@uteq.edu.ec; https://www.orcid.org/0000-

0002-2851-2660

Master's Degree, Quevedo State Technical University.

Campus "Ingeniero Manuel Agustín Haz Álvarez",

Av. Quito km. 1 1/2 via Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

mdiaz@uteq.edu.ec; https://www.orcid.org/0000-0001-

8944-5994

Doctor Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo. Campus

"Ingeniero Manuel Agustín Haz Álvarez",

Av. Quito km. 1 1/2 via Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

boviedo@uteq.edu.ec; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-

5366-5917

Quevedo State Technical University. Campus "Ingeniero

Manuel Agustín Haz Álvarez",

Av. Quito km. 1 1/2 via Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas

nguerrero@uteq.edu.ec; https://www.orcid.org/0000-

0003-3192-5981

Article

Sinergias educativas

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classification at the source, and the municipal temporary collectors

located in each sector are not sufficient for the existing inhabitants.

Evaluating the environmental education plan, according to the level

of knowledge, attitudes, practices, moral obligations and

government policies, is the objective of the research. 352 inhabitants

were surveyed by means of a questionnaire with two sections of

questions: demographic information and household waste

management. The environmental education plan that fosters an

environmental attitude, ecological awareness and environmental

sensitivity was implemented in 53 volunteer households, with house-

to-house visits. The per capita generation of 0.85kg/inhab*day and

64.35% of the generation corresponds to organic waste according to

the characterization phase.

Key words: Waste sorting, Education level, Occupational

occupation, Environmental awareness, Practical workshops.

Resumen

En Quevedo, la parroquia Guayacán es reconocida por la actividad

comercial en el área residencial, la disposición de los residuos no

incluye clasificación en el origen y los colectores temporales

municipales ubicados por sectores no son suficientes para los

habitantes existentes. Evaluar el plan de educación ambiental, según

el nivel de los conocimientos, actitudes, prácticas, obligaciones

morales y políticas gubernamentales, es el objetivo de la

investigación. Se encuestó a 352 habitantes mediante un cuestionario

con dos secciones de preguntas: información demográfica y el

manejo de los residuos domésticos. El plan de educación ambiental

que fomenta una actitud ambiental, conciencia ecológica y

sensibilidad ambiental se implementó en 53 hogares voluntarios, con

visitas casa a casa. La generación per cápita de 0,85kg/hab*día y el

64,35% de la generación corresponde a residuos orgánicos según la

fase de caracterización.

Palabras clave: Clasificación de residuos, Nivel de educación,

Ocupación laboral, Sensibilización Ambiental, Talleres prácticos.

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Introduction

Solid waste is the by-product of human activity since the dawn of

humanity. Every day they increase in quantity and variety as a

consequence of the increase in human population and technological

and industrial development (Leiton & Revelo, 2017). In this regard

Urbina et al (2019) mention that "the high levels of consumption,

associated with the processes of population growth and urbanization,

have increased the generation of household solid waste in urban

spaces. For this reason, this problem is addressed in terms of the

environmental impacts and consequences it causes".

According to the World Bank report every year 2010 million tons of

municipal solid waste is produced worldwide, the volume is

expected to increase by 2050, which poses enormous challenges for

municipal waste disposal (Wang, Dong, & Yin, 2018).

In Ecuador, each inhabitant of the urban sector produces on average

0.58 kilograms of solid waste per day. The daily collection of solid

waste is around 12,897.98 tons, corresponding to the year 2016

(INEC, 2018). Of the total waste collected per day, 11% is in a

differentiated manner between organic and inorganic waste from the

source (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos, 2015).

Environmental education involves a process of raising awareness of

emerging socio-environmental processes, which mobilizes citizen

participation in decision-making (Hernández, 2014). The challenge

of environmental education is to ensure that human beings

incorporate into their lives knowledge, attitudes, habits and values

that allow them to understand and act in environmental conservation,

(Pinilla, 2015).

The purpose of this research is to determine the impact of the

implementation of an environmental education plan regarding the

classification of solid waste at the source, as a strategy to improve

solid waste management by promoting environmental awareness

among the inhabitants of the El Guayacán neighborhood through the

acquisition of environmental knowledge and attitudes.

Materials and methods

The research was conducted in the town of El Guayacán (Figure 1)

located in the canton of Quevedo in the province of Los Ríos.

According to the last population and housing census conducted in

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2010, it has a population of 4,236 inhabitants. An exclusive area was

selected with households of compact organization and close to

temporary storage collectors provided by the Decentralized

Autonomous Government of Quevedo.

A total of 352 surveys were conducted with residents of the

Guayacán parish to analyze demographic data (gender, education

level, and occupation) and the management of municipal solid waste

(MSW) in the household, according to 24 questions related to solid

waste management in households, knowledge (10), attitude (3),

practice (5), moral obligations (3), and government policies (3).

Aspects that show the level of knowledge, attitude, practice, moral

obligations and government policies of the inhabitants towards the

reduction and classification of solid waste, recycling and waste

collection; each indicator of the response variables was coded as 1

and 0, for yes or no answers respectively. The Chi-square test was

then applied to the results, which correlates the demographic

characteristics of the citizens (level of education, gender and

occupation) and the knowledge, attitudes, practices, moral

obligations and government policies on the management of

household solid waste. The significance level was set at 0.05

(P<0.05 considering as significant) (Zoroufchi Benis, Safaiyan, &

Shakerkhatibi, 2018). In 59 volunteer households, urban solid waste

was characterized as set out by the Ecuadorian Technical Standard

NTE INEN 2841.2014- 03, which sets out the Environmental

Management in Ecuador (Table 1). And per capita production was

determined (Ruiz, 2015).

Based on the results obtained from the diagnosis, measures were

established to help classify and make the best use of waste. The

components of the Environmental Education Plan (PEA) consisted

of five areas: awareness and sensitivity, knowledge and

understanding, attitudes, skills and participation, which were

subsequently evaluated in a non-formal educational process; with the

implementation of direct contact actions with the participating

actors; activities that help to change values and attitudes towards

daily activities (Pinilla, 2015).

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Results

The results of the survey of the 352 inhabitants determined the main

demographic characteristics of the study area: 45% are men and 55%

are women. Regarding the level of education, 55% of those surveyed

have a university degree, 44% have a high school education and 1%

are illiterate. Finally, 13% of the respondents work in a government

institution, while 56% are self-employed and 31% are unemployed.

In reference to the management of solid waste (SW) generated by

phases in the initial evaluation, the lack of classification in the

generation of the 59 households was evidenced. There are two

storage spaces: inside the homes without protective measures for

hazardous waste and temporary storage in public containers located

next to the sidewalks of public roads, where waste from different

households is mixed and there is no collection of liquids. Waste is

collected and transported twice a day (morning and afternoon) from

Monday to Sunday. There is no waste treatment or utilization, and

final disposal is carried out in the emergency pooled cell, which is

currently collapsed. These problems are more severe in developing

countries, where waste collection and integrated management

operations do not occur at all or not enough (Pakpour, 2014).

The results highlight the knowledge about the composition of

garbage generated in the household (86%), reduction of waste

generation (74%), valuable solid waste (68%), recyclable waste

(96%) and the economic and environmental benefits of recycling

(80%). Regarding the effects on health caused by the

misclassification of solid waste (91%), the reduction of

environmental pollution (87%), the reduction of waste of resources

(81%) and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to the

implementation of selective waste collection (75%), 63% are aware

that they do not know the benefits of recycling. While 63% are aware

that there are no waste separation containers in the El Guayacán

neighborhood. The attitude of support for the proper sorting of waste

is supported by 86% of respondents and the delivery of segregated

waste to collection agents by 78%.

However, in practice, only 53% reported sorting solid waste at home,

52% responded that their family does not always sort MSW, 77%

reported that their friends do not sort waste, and only 30% of

respondents sell segregated waste to itinerant waste buyers.

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According to the results, 67% of the inhabitants surveyed are

satisfied with the current waste collection service provided by the

municipality and 16% go to the municipality for waste problems.

Regarding moral obligations 64% of the respondents stated that it is

against their moral principles not to sort MSW, 68% have an

obligation to sort their household waste and 67% feel guilty if they

do not sort waste. And with respect to government policies,

respondents know that residents who sort solid waste can receive

subsidies by the government and can get incentives by the

community (27% and 28% respectively), 27% understand that

people who fail to comply with the rules of collection and separation

of household solid waste should be sanctioned by the government.

Since profitability and success in the management of household

waste, is through changes in attitudes and behaviors; as well as

public education and encouragement of citizens to participate in the

recycling process, as part of citizen participation in source separation

(Babaei, Alavia, Goudarzia, & Ahmadie, 2015).

Based on the Chi-square test, the correlation between demographic

characteristics of citizens such as level of education, gender and

occupation; and knowledge, attitudes, practices, moral obligations

and government policies on the management of household solid

waste; it was shown that for the knowledge of waste composition is

dependent on the type of governmental occupation of the citizen

(PC1 p-value 0.010< 0.05); but not dependent on gender (PC1 p-

value 0.070< 0.05); neither on educational level (PC2 p-value

0.132< 0.05). While knowledge about recyclable waste presents a

significant association with higher education (PC5 P-value 0.014<

0.05).

Executing solid waste sorting at home correlates with female gender

(PC1 p-value 0.019< 0.05) and with education level (PC1 p-value

0.026< 0.05). Moral obligations reflected in waste management,

depends on gender (PC3 p-value 0.05= 0.05).

The implementation of training and participatory workshops

included talks on the types of waste, classification, use and effects

of improper disposal. The characterization of each household was

part of the practical activities developed. The average per capita

production of 0.85 kg/inhab*day was higher than the 0.75

kg/inhab*day determined in the Mundo Verde commonwealth study

(2014). The type of waste that stands out is organic waste with

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64.35% of the total weight. By highlighting the increase in the

considered areas of evaluation after the implementation of the

education plan. With greater weight in the Moral obligations with

79%, predisposition to support public policies or ordinances in favor

of improving the management of RS with 72.67%. This is supported

by the 22.67% increase in the attitude to apply knowledge, which

increased by 22.50%. However, it is evident that the greatest

difficulty is presented with the practical part, since in the application

of knowledge, the population does not have a public system that

motivates, manages and encourages the correct application of MSW

management. In assessing the improvement of knowledge on

characterization of municipal solid waste and household waste,

behaviors in a megacity in northwestern Iran, slightly improvement

was evidenced with respect to the level of education, so that people

with relatively high level of education had more knowledge of MSW

than those with primary education level. The impact of respondents'

occupation revealed that people with government occupations were

more aware than the unemployed or employed and also had more

tendencies to approach municipal authorities about waste problems.

Noticing that the knowledge and awareness of government

employees towards recycling programs and waste management

system are higher than the self-employed and unemployed

(Zoroufchi Benis et al 2018).

In the present study, similarities were obtained in the correlation

between the demographic characteristics of the citizens and the

knowledge, attitudes, practices, obligations, morals and

governmental policies on the management of household solid waste

whose results indicated that people with a higher level of education

had more knowledge about SW than those with a lower level of

education since their knowledge was improved after years of study.

In addition, a higher level of education had positive influences on

the willingness to separate waste. These results corroborate the

findings of previous studies, indicating that the level of education

plays an important role in the SR-related behavior of citizens.

Generally, it can be said that people with high educational levels

have more general knowledge which, consequently, they are

supposed to act positively regarding the environment (Al-Khateeb,

Al-Sari, & Anayah, 2017). The impact of respondents' occupation

showed that people working in a government institution were more

Sinergias educativas

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aware than the unemployed or self-employed. Regarding the

relationship of gender with waste separation behavior was

statistically non-significant (88.6% of females and 81.8% of males

are aware of solid waste composition) unlike the study of (Zoroufchi

Benis, Safaiyan, & Shakerkhatibi, 2018). However, females were

more willing to sort solid waste. In the case of practicing solid waste

sorting at source the participation of females (59.1%) was higher

than those of males (46.5%) indicates that the gender association

with waste sorting practice was statistically significant. Based on the

results, women's participation has been shown to be reasonably

effective in source separation activities, and in general, women are

more likely to recycle. In order to achieve the acquisition of

environmental knowledge, the development of education and ethics

is necessary, as indispensable processes in shaping awareness in this

regard (Varona, 2018).

Discussion

The development of practical, participatory and dynamic trainings

established in the environmental education plan increased the

volunteers' knowledge, attitude, moral obligations and practice,

reflecting a positive impact of 33.74% increase in knowledge,

attitude, practice, moral obligations and government policies.

It is imperative to apply incentives to reduce the degradation of

environmental factors caused indirectly by the mixing and

inadequate disposal of solid waste in homes, temporary collectors

and later in the emerging cell of the canton of Quevedo. Therefore,

it is necessary that environmental education plans are implemented

with the support of public policies that integrate the respective

incentives and sanctions.

The classification of solid waste at the source (households)

represents a greater opportunity for waste recovery; obtaining

organic fertilizer due to the high percentage of organic waste

generated, and for recyclers, recycling cardboard, plastic and glass

is more optimal. In addition, it contributes to the municipal

collection and disposal system by reducing the volume that is

dumped in temporary containers in the parish of El Guayacán.

The level of education, gender and type of work occupation, increase

the impact of the environmental education plan; the statistically

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significant correlation of the Chi-square analysis, highlighted that

people with a higher level of education play an important role in the

behavior of the inhabitants, as they knew more about solid waste. As

well as occupation showed that people working in a governmental

institution were more aware of the knowledge of waste and for the

practice, the female gender was more willing to sort solid waste at

the source.

The environmental education plan is a tool that trained the

inhabitants and raised awareness among the inhabitants of the El

Guayacán neighborhood about sorting solid household waste at the

source. It increased the predisposition to apply the classification

through a change of attitude and environmental sensitivity.

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