Mind the Waste: Assessing Awareness and Attitudes Towards Solid Waste Management among University Students

This study aimed to assess the awareness, attitudes, and practices of college students regarding solid waste management (SWM) at a private Catholic university in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The research sought to determine the relationship between students’ awareness, attitudes, and practices toward SWM and to explore factors influencing their engagement in environmental sustainability efforts. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to students from six academic units: the School of Health and Natural Sciences (SHaNS), School of Teacher Education and Humanities (STEH), School of Graduate Studies (SGS), School of Accountancy and Business (SAB), School of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology (SEAIT), and the College of Law (CoL). Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to interpret the data. The findings revealed that students demonstrated moderate to high awareness and very positive attitudes toward SWM. Notably, SHaNS students scored the highest across all domains. However, a gap was observed between awareness and self-reported practices, indicating that knowledge and attitudes do not consistently translate into sustainable behavior. Correlational analysis showed strong positive relationships between awareness and attitudes (r = 0.60), awareness and practices (r = 0.45), and a moderate correlation between attitudes and practices (r = 0.35). The study concludes that there is a need for stronger institutional support, including more accessible waste management infrastructure, regular awareness campaigns, and experiential learning opportunities to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. Recommendations include integrating environmental education across all academic disciplines, fostering student-led sustainability initiatives, and refining teaching methods to ensure a comprehensive approach to SWM across the university.