Waste disposal awareness, practice and the attitude of selected South African university students : implications for environmental education

Abstract

In recent times, a high rate of industrialisation, population, urbanisation and civilisation has resulted in increased and indiscriminate generation of waste, which has a negative impact on the natural environment. Studies have revealed that waste contributes to about five percent of global greenhouse gas emission leading to climate change which has also given rise to serious human health problems all over the world. This study assessed waste disposal awareness, Practice and Attitude (APA) of students from a South African university. Three hundred and fourteen (314) respondents answered a 23-item APA questionnaire (r = 0.80). The quantitative data were analysed through computing descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi-square). The results show that the majority of students displayed an adequate level of APA towards waste disposal. Male students demonstrated higher levels of APA than their female counterparts did. Students ranked newspapers as their most important source of environmental information on waste management and related matters which was followed by the television. Students should be educated as early as possible about the need for conservation of the environment if we expect a sustainable future.