From Awareness to Action: Evaluating Awareness, Attitude, Behaviour and Practices of Students towards Solid Waste Management in India

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to assess the level of awareness regarding solid waste management (SWM) among university
students in India. As SWM remains a major challenge globally due to urbanization, industrial growth, and evolving consumption habits,
the study explores students' current practices, attitudes, behaviours, and awareness related to SWM. It specifically aims to identify the
factors influencing students’ awareness, examine how these factors impact awareness levels, and analyze the relationship between
awareness and actual waste management behaviours. A quantitative methodology was adopted, utilizing a structured questionnaire
distributed to a sample of 246 university students. Data analysis involved exploratory factor analysis and correlation analysis. Findings
reveal that while students display strong attitudes and behaviours toward SWM, their awareness is only moderate and practices vary.
Notably, awareness is significantly associated with behaviour and practice but shows a weak connection with attitude. The strong
correlation between attitude and behaviour indicates that promoting positive attitudes could be more effective in fostering sustainable
waste management behaviours.