The environment is at precarious state; the changes it is encountering threatening current ways of life. Human society in its role as “guardian – or tenant- is left with the responsibility to care for it, keep it at a state that is livable and to control damages caused by nurtured practices.

                This study examined the level of awareness, knowledge and practices of primary and secondary schools students with regard to waste management. Only a limited number of studies were found to evaluate school student`s awareness, knowledge and practices of school students and discussed at the hand of the principles, objectives and targets of the South African Government towards waste and waste management.

                After dissemination of information, the students obviously aware of concerns with waste and waste management. It was also apparent the School students had an acute awareness that poor management would have a negative impact in the Country as well as on them as individual.

Good waste management practices were minimal at both the School and home environment. Since Schools and students are seen as one of the key agent of change to work towards a more sustainable future. They would be engaged as young as possible and given a quality array of continuous learning to improve their knowledge on environmental problems such as poor management. Improved knowledge would contribute to improved environmental awareness and a pro-environmental attitude.

 Therefore waste segregation is so important to solve the problem. When waste is not segregated, it is difficult to pick out these materials for recycling. This leads to a lot of wastage of valuable resources. Toxic waste can seep into the ground and contaminate our water supplies and sometimes cause widespread disease. Even non-toxic wastes causes pollution that contributes to global warming and a general negative impact on the public health. 

EPA studies suggest that global warming could make earth almost inhospitable by the end of the century. In that manner, we are in need of proper segregation of wastes materials to prevent the drastic effects that can result to improper waste disposal of trash.  Segregation of wastes is very important. This is the gauge to proper waste disposal which when done by men can make the environment free from toxins and pollution. 

By: Mrs. Richelle P. Siasat | Teacher 1 | The School of Creative Minds and Arts, Inc.