Solid waste management and environmental culture of students of the Environmental Engineering Study Program (#2019)

Authors

Paredes-Guerrero, Katherine

Avila-Remigio, Fabiana

Romero-Untiveros, Luis

Chiroque-Zanabria, Enrique

Lara-Herrera, Juan

Abstract

The proper management of solid waste and the development of a strong environmental culture are essential elements in the preparation of future professionals, especially those who specialize in the environmental field, since they have a direct impact on sustainability and care for the environment. In this sense, it is essential to understand how students of careers related to the environment manage these aspects in their daily lives and how they develop in their ecological awareness. In this context, the research focused on knowing how students of the Environmental Engineering Program of the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering of the University of Sciences and Humanities manage their waste and evaluate their degree of environmental awareness, as well as exploring the relationship between both factors. To this end, questionnaires were applied to the students, and the data obtained were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics software. These results showed a variability in students' practices and perceptions of sustainability, with a strong correlation between proper waste management and a strong environmental culture. Therefore, the importance of strengthening educational strategies to promote sustainable practices is highlighted, contributing to the training of professionals committed to caring for the environment and improving the quality of life of society.