The perspective of the academic community on the proper disposal of waste within its environment

Abstract

The issue of separating and disposing of solid waste in Brazil is a problem that has afflicted the population for a long time, and the environmental deficiency that this brings is a condition that tends to worsen with the delay in creating solutions. Furthermore, with the advancement of industrialization, citizens' consumption increased, and consequently, there was inadequate waste disposal, damaging the environment. In Brazil, most of the problems caused by waste are due to people's need for more awareness and knowledge of their responsibility regarding the destination of its disposal. In this context, everyone must commit to raising awareness in the community of their essential role in waste segregation and their environmental responsibility. With this in mind, to better understand awareness about the citizen's role in minimizing and correctly disposing of waste, a survey involving 90 college students of different age groups and locations, with the main focus being the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). The results indicated a significant discrepancy in awareness and practices related to waste segregation, with 76% residing in cities with selective waste collection. The study also reveals the lack of awareness among university students regarding waste management in the cities where they study. Despite the availability of content for waste segregation at universities, 71% of participants cannot identify who manage recyclable waste on campus, highlighting a potential lack of interest or information. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced environmental education and behavioral changes to minimize the environmental impact of extensive waste generation and improper disposal among university students.