Fostering Responsible Waste Disposal Habits and an Environmental Ethic in High School Students

Abstract

This study endeavored to provide evidence that high school students' active participation in recycling will lead to responsible waste disposal attitudes and habits. Within a quasi-experimental method, the researcher used a pre-/post-survey comparison of students enrolled in environmental science at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, TN, for the 2005-2006 school year. Students were involved in paper recycling and a waste reduction education module. Evidence supported the improvement and promotion of the schoolwide recycling system fostered responsible waste disposal habits of Riverdale High School students. However, the lack of significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the pre-/post-survey comparison suggests that the hands-on waste reduction education module had little effect on the students' attitude regarding environmental ethics or waste disposal habits. The fact that both the control and experimental groups' scores indicated significant improvement between pre- and post-surveys could suggest that there was another variable within the experimental design. Further study might realize the implied potential of peer influence to foster conscientious waste disposal habits and environmental responsibility in high school students. It is likely environmental education experiences need to be reinforced throughout students' school career for environmentally responsible attitudes and behaviors to manifest in high school.