Method Recycling: The Importance of Waste Education in Primary Schools
Why is waste education vital in primary schools?
The world often assumes that leading environmental change is difficult, but recycling can be taught to children at an early age. Research by Matthies et al. (2012) found that children’s recycling behaviour (e.g., separating paper waste) was primarily influenced by observing and imitating parental behaviours. In contrast, reusing habits (e.g., using both sides of paper) were developed through verbal reinforcement and problem knowledge communication. If children are influenced by parents, teachers play a vital role in influencing children’s pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). Krettenauer (2017) and others have found that children take a firm moral stance towards protecting the environment even when attitudes differ from values found in their social environments.
This presents a “window of opportunity” for change, as children are more open to suggestions and influences than adults (Eilam and Trop, 2012). In fact, 59% of children and young people are extremely worried about climate change (Hickman et al. 2021). Aligning waste education with sustainability goals (such as circular economy and climate action) can provide the foundation for a thriving future.
Integrating recycling into the school curriculum, as a part of broader environmental goals, is essential for managing future change. Studies show that education significantly impacts children’s cognitive, affective, and behavioural development when it comes to pro-environmental behaviours (Martín-Jaime et al., 2021). A study by Liang et al. (2022) found that positive demonstrations by teachers had a significant effect on children’s recycling behaviour.
Schools benefit from incorporating environmental issues throughout their infrastructure. Lukman et al. (2013) found that features like sustainable design, such as solar panels and water tanks, can positively influence students’ environmental behaviours. Schools designed to engage children with sustainability can lead to more pro-environmental attitudes.
Conclusion: The window of opportunity to influence children’s behaviours towards sustainability is wide open. Primary schools have a crucial role to play in integrating waste education into everyday learning.
Read the full article here for practical recommendations on how to implement waste education in your school and help foster sustainable behaviours from an early age.
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