Sustainability and environmental education: a highlight of solid waste generated Santo Antônio setting - Paraíba – Brazil

Abstract

The progress of humanity has contributed to improve the quality and life expectancy, but, on the other hand, the consumerism compromises the well-being of future generations and the environment, since it causes growth in waste generation. In this sense, environmental education is a process that seeks to awaken the individual and collective concerns that motivate actions aimed at environmental sustainability. Thus, the adopted procedures followed primary data collection, but also, bibliographic survey, as well on structuring educational activities aimed at sustainability, disseminating and coordinating activities related to environmental management, more specific, solid waste, with regard to income generation, natural resources, quality of life and the relationship of these with human nature. To this end, lectures, workshops, and manual on composting, digester and the implementation of selective rubish collection which had the purpose of contributing to the improvement of production, food and community income. Regarding the results, it was verified that the types and conditions of living, were observed that the inhabitants of the settlement, have masonry residence (90%), followed by wood, and recycled material. With regard to the use of any type of energy sources in the settlement, these make use only of electricity, citing not otherwise sustainable alternative energy e.g. biogas from biodigester. On the other hand, regarding to the use of any type of material that would be thrown, the plastic has been one of the most re-used by 75% of the settlers, followed by just over 8% of residents who recycle paper, glass and metal. Provoked regarding the possibility of their work generate damage to environment, 75% said yes, i.e. 25% of respondents stated that your jobs does not cause damage to the nature. It was concluded then that the proposal to education in constant dialogue with nature represented a development-friendly local knowledge of natural resources development practices, as well as local knowledge can be articulated by the environmental education and change the ways of living and understanding the nature, its limits, challenges and impediments, with a look of who is included in the environment, experiencing their mutations and resistance to natural conditions.