Teachers’ knowledge and views on developing zero waste education within the sustainable development goals framework

Abstract

The Zero Waste Project is a powerful tool for individuals to raise awareness about waste management and ensure sustainable development. Education is the key to disseminating the Zero Waste Project and raising awareness in individuals. Sustainable development has a complex structure with strong links to different fields. It is, therefore, crucial to consider the insights and perspectives of educators from diverse backgrounds on zero waste education within the context of a sustainable development framework. Thus, necessary arrangements can be made in line with the experiences and suggestions of these teachers, and the development of zero waste education can be facilitated. This study aims to reveal the knowledge and opinions of teachers about the development of zero waste education. This qualitative research was conducted with 20 teachers from different disciplines, including mathematics, science, social studies, and language teachers. The data was collected during the 2022-2023 academic year. The results revealed that teachers have limited knowledge about sustainable development and zero waste. Consequently, while all teachers concurred on the necessity of providing education on zero waste to students, teachers, and parents, they emphasized the importance of implementing this education as a separate course and utilizing novel methodologies. It is anticipated that the findings of this research will facilitate the development of zero-waste education within the context of sustainable development.