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The Difference of Knowledge and Behavior of College Students on Plastic Waste Problems

Author

Listed:
  • Rospita Odorlina P. Situmorang

    (Department of Forestry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan)

  • Ta-Ching Liang

    (Department of Leisure and Recreation, National Formosa University, Huwei Township, Yunlin County 632, Taiwan)

  • Shu-Chun Chang

    (Graduate Institute of Bio-industry Management, National Chung Hsing University, Taichug 402, Taiwan)

Abstract

Environmental education in the academic level is the most effective way to increase environmental awareness of college students particularly in handling plastic waste problems. This study aimed to compare the student’s knowledge and behavior on plastic waste problem between environmental science and social science students and to examine the correlation of knowledge and behavior to reduce plastic waste. Through survey of 98 students of National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, we compared the students’ knowledge and behavior on plastic waste problems by t -Test and Chi-square analysis, and we used Kendall’s rank correlation to evaluate the correlation of knowledge and behavior. This study found that the differences in majors resulted in the significant differences in knowledge on the negative impacts of plastic waste, where the students who are majoring in environmental sciences have higher score than the students in social science. Relating behaviors, the differences in majors also resulted in the significant different behaviors to reduce plastic usage, where the students with major in environmental sciences have the better behavior to reduce plastic usage for daily life than the social science students. These behaviors were shown in purchasing products with plastic packaging, preparing shopping bag, re-using plastic bags, taking own meal box, and having food on the sites to reduce single used plastic package. This study also found the positive correlation between environmental knowledge on plastic waste and behavior to reduce plastic waste in the daily life.

Suggested Citation

  • Rospita Odorlina P. Situmorang & Ta-Ching Liang & Shu-Chun Chang, 2020. "The Difference of Knowledge and Behavior of College Students on Plastic Waste Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:7851-:d:417832
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Khademi-Vidra, Anikó, 2017. "Curriculum Planning Of The Environmental Education," Journal of Central European Green Innovation, Karoly Robert University College, vol. 5(1).
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Shao-Ping Yang & Shu-Chun Chang & Ta-Ching Liang & Rospita Odorlina P. Situmorang & Minhas Hussain, 2021. "Consumer Confusion and Green Consumption Intentions from the Perspective of Food-Related Lifestyles on Organic Infant Milk Formulas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Nguyen, Hien Thi, 2023. "Impacts of Education and Perception on Vietnamese High School Students' Behaviors Regarding Plastic Waste : The Mediating Role of Attitude," OSF Preprints zn2k7, Center for Open Science.
    3. Gratiela Dana Boca & Sinan Saraçli, 2023. "Effects of Romanian Student’s Awareness and Needs Regarding Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Dongxu Qu & Tetiana Shevchenko & Zahra Shams Esfandabadi & Meisam Ranjbari, 2023. "College Students’ Attitude towards Waste Separation and Recovery on Campus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Jimena González-Ramírez & Heyi Cheng & Sierra Arral, 2021. "Funding Campus Sustainability through a Green Fee—Estimating Students’ Willingness to Pay," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Kyle T. H. Ho & Patrick W. H. Kwok & Stephen S. Y. Chang & Amanda M. Y. Chu, 2023. "Gaps between Attitudes and Behavior in the Use of Disposable Plastic Tableware (DPT) and Factors Influencing Sustainable DPT Consumption: A Study of Hong Kong Undergraduates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, June.

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