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Analysis and Measures to Improve Waste Management in Schools

Author

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  • Elena Cristina Rada

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Chiara Bresciani

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Eleonora Girelli

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Marco Ragazzi

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Marco Schiavon

    (Department of Civil Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Torretta

    (Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, Insubria University of Varese, via G.B. Vico 46, 21100 Varese, Italy)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Cristina Rada & Chiara Bresciani & Eleonora Girelli & Marco Ragazzi & Marco Schiavon & Vincenzo Torretta, 2016. "Analysis and Measures to Improve Waste Management in Schools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:9:p:840-:d:76602
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ann C. Wilkie & Ryan E. Graunke & Camilo Cornejo, 2015. "Food Waste Auditing at Three Florida Schools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Peter Tucker & David Speirs, 2003. "Attitudes and Behavioural Change in Household Waste Management Behaviours," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 289-307.
    3. Crociata, Alessandro & Agovino, Massimiliano & Sacco, Pier Luigi, 2015. "Recycling waste: Does culture matter?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 40-47.
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