Abstract
Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a multifaceted problem comprising political, socioeconomic, institutional, and environmental aspects. Due to exponential urban growth, it has become one of the most significant issues faced by urban spaces in developing countries. The gap in environmental knowledge among the youth and the old within developing countries contribute to ecological issues or waste management problems, resulting in unsustainable development, with important consequences in low-income countries. For that matter, a systematic review was conducted aiming to identify and analyse environmental knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and practice studies on SWM from 2010 to 2019 in developing countries. The evidence suggests that students at both secondary and tertiary levels have positive environmental attitudes, and high awareness of environmental issues, but there is a lack of practical education of teachers to guide students to put SWM into practice. Student’s low environmental knowledge is related to a deficiency in teachers’ practical experience in SWM for environmental sustainability. A relationship between teachers’ and students’ knowledge and attitudes towards SWM, as well as differences in awareness, attitude, and practices of SWM linked with education and age, were also found. This review also revealed that the lack of environmental education in most developing countries is caused by fragilities in practical environmental curricula of teachers to respond to modern-day environmental issues for sustainable development and cleaner production (CP). To bridge the knowledge gap between the youth and older people in SWM, environmental sustainability education should be integrated into schools at all levels within developing countries.
Highlights
Solid waste management (SWM) is a critical environmental problem with direct effects on both environment, e.g., air, water, and soil, and public health
The reviewed studies were conducted in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, India, South Africa, Philippines and Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Indonesia
Waste management related to overall environmental issues is a significant problem in most developing countries
Summary
Solid waste management (SWM) is a critical environmental problem with direct effects on both environment, e.g., air, water, and soil, and public health. Any non-liquid waste created by individuals, households, small businesses, or institutions outside of the waste generated within cities is referred to as solid waste (SW) and the uncontrolled disposal of SW may affect public health and the environment [3]. It is known that the collection rates of SW may vary significantly from one country to another. The rapid growth in urban populations, economies, and power consumption in developing countries, combined with the failure of institutional authorities responsible for city planning, roadworks, SWM, and the environment to execute their core functional duties, has led to rampant SW generation [5,6,7,8]
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