Perception, Attitude, and Practice about Environment Conservation through Plastic Waste Management among Students in Ghazi University D.G. Khan

Abstract

The global issue of plastic pollution necessitated a comprehensive understanding of individual attitudes and behaviors toward plastic recycling and environmental conservation. Improper disposal of plastic waste significantly contributed to environmental pollution, as plastics took hundreds of years to decompose and some contained harmful chemicals that could leach into the environment, posing potential risks to human health. Proper management of plastic waste was essential to reduce exposure to these harmful substances and enhance public health and well-being. The present study, titled "Perception, Attitude, and Practice of Environment Conservation through Plastic Waste Management among Students in Dera Ghazi Khan," aimed to explore the intricate interplay between human behaviors and environmental sustainability. Specifically, it sought to: 1) explore the perception of students toward environmental conservation; 2) study the knowledge and attitudes among students regarding plastic waste management; 3) examine how students practiced plastic waste management; and 4) provide recommendations for proper plastic waste management and environmental conservation. A structured questionnaire was developed and targeted a sample size of 300 students from various departments of Ghazi University. In the first stage, 10 different departments were randomly selected from Ghazi University. In the second stage, 30 students were chosen from each department using a convenient sampling technique. The study found that 55.7% of students strongly agreed that they supported businesses using plastic alternatives, and 44% strongly agreed that investing in advanced recycling systems is crucial for reducing plastic pollution. Awareness about plastic pollution was shown to significantly impact environmental conservation attitudes, with 37% strongly agreeing that it fosters a culture of responsibility. Additionally, 35.3% of respondents strongly supported providing incentives to reduce plastic use. Data analysis using SPSS revealed significant associations between attitudes toward reusable items and effective plastic waste management. Findings indicated that students who strongly agreed that increasing the use of reusable items can aid environmental conservation also believed that recycling plastic waste effectively reduces pollution. These findings provide valuable insights for future research and policy formulation in environmental conservation and plastic waste management.