Abstract:
This study examines the level of awareness of solid waste storage and collection
methods, the understanding of environmental and health impacts resulting from
improper solid waste management practices, and the sources of information on solid
waste management among students in selected senior high schools in the Adansi
North District of Ghana. A descriptive quantitative research design was employed,
targeting 900 students from three senior high schools. The sample size consisted of
277 students selected through stratified, convenience, and simple random sampling
techniques. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, achieving a response
rate of 96.8%. The findings reveal that most students (40.3%) reported that their
school primarily utilizes landfilling for solid waste management, followed by
incineration (26.9%) and composting (8.6%). Although 76.5% of students reported
the presence of designated areas for solid waste storage on their school's campus, only
10.1% reported regular waste collection services, and a mere 6.0% reported any
school-wide campaigns or initiatives promoting sustainable waste management
practices. Additionally, 65.3% of students were uncertain about the school's level of
involvement in waste management, and 78.0% were unsure about the overall
effectiveness of their school's waste management practices. Regarding awareness of
environmental and health effects resulting from improper waste management
practices, students displayed a moderate level of awareness. They recognized that
improper waste management leads to environmental pollution (mean = 4.36) and
health problems for local communities (mean = 3.51), but displayed relatively low
agreement on the impact on wildlife and their habitats (mean = 2.69). Students
exhibited a moderate level of awareness that recycling and composting can mitigate
negative impacts (mean = 3.08), while perceiving improper waste management as a
global issue requiring international cooperation received the lowest level of agreement
(mean = 2.13). The study also found that the majority of students (65.3%) were not
involved in waste management practices, and only 6.0% were aware of any school wide campaigns or initiatives promoting sustainable waste management. These
findings emphasize the need for increased student engagement and awareness in
waste management practices within the school community. The study recommends
that policymakers, educators, and local authorities in the Adansi North District take
necessary steps to improve waste management practices in schools and raise
environmental awareness among students. While the study provides valuable insights,
it has several limitations.
