BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND COMMUNITY-BASED WASTE MANAGEMENT

The increasing volume of waste generated by households and communities has become an important environmental challenge that requires active participation from society. Inadequate waste management practices, including improper disposal, limited waste separation, and low awareness of waste reduction, may contribute to environmental pollution and reduce the quality of community living environments. This community service program aimed to strengthen environmental literacy and develop community-based waste management practices as a foundation for building sustainable communities. The program employed a participatory community-based environmental education and waste management approach consisting of initial observation, needs assessment, environmental literacy education, waste sorting training, practical waste management activities, community discussions, mentoring, and evaluation. Participants were introduced to the environmental impacts of waste, principles of waste reduction, reuse and recycling, household waste separation, organic and inorganic waste management, and community participation in maintaining environmental sustainability. Practical activities enabled participants to identify different types of waste, establish appropriate sorting practices, and explore simple methods for managing waste within their community. The program also encouraged participants to develop shared commitments toward maintaining cleanliness and sustaining community-based waste management practices. Evaluation was conducted through pre-test and post-test assessments, observation, practical activities, participant reflection, and feedback. The program demonstrated improvements in participants' understanding of environmental issues and their awareness of responsible waste management. Participants also demonstrated greater engagement in waste sorting and recognized the importance of collective participation in maintaining environmental quality. The findings indicate that environmental literacy combined with participatory waste management activities can strengthen community capacity to address local environmental challenges. Sustainable waste management requires not only infrastructure but also continuous education, behavioral change, community participation, and institutional support.

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