A Study of Environmental Behaviour of the Wenceslau Braz (In the State of Paraná) Population as Regards Urban Solid Waste

Abstract

The increasing and continuous production of waste in cities is a major concern for Public Managers. The implementation of the Environmental Public Policy has contributed to the responsible participation of all citizens. A partnership between the State University of Northern Paraná, in the Bandeirantes (PR) campus, and the City of Wenceslau Braz (PR) enabled the implementation of the "Green Partnership" Extension Project. Among the results, the implementation of selective collection of municipal solid waste was the most important. This study aims to understand the environmental behaviour of the population of Wenceslau Braz (PR) after 15 months after the start of the selective collection service. A field research was done to study the environmental awareness of the people regarding the treatment of solid waste. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied by Community Health Agents, provided by the local Health Department, which, in the first week of December 2013, interviewed 310 people. The results show that 51% of respondents have a high interest in the issue of waste in nature. However, only 29% of them have substituted products for others to reduce the impact on the environment. Of the respondents, 1 in 5 do not commit to recycling at home. The data show that the lower the educational level, the greater the indifference to waste in nature. The study concludes that environmental education is the main tool to promote the overcoming of the current environmental problems, making possible the effective sustainability of our planet.