Development of a Community-Driven Waste Reduction Education and Action Program

Keith A. Chenier, Elizabeth Englebretson, Jessi A. James-Barry, Amanda N. Rigsby, Alyssa E. Rodolfich, Evelyn P. McQueen and Eric L. Sparks ()
Additional contact information
Keith A. Chenier: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA
Elizabeth Englebretson: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA
Jessi A. James-Barry: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA
Amanda N. Rigsby: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA
Alyssa E. Rodolfich: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA
Evelyn P. McQueen: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA
Eric L. Sparks: Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, Biloxi, MS 39532, USA

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-10

Abstract: Mismanaged and excessive waste has adverse effects on natural environments, economies, and human health. To address these waste issues, the Sustainability with Awareness and Prevention Solutions Program was developed and implemented in communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast (USA) with the aim to provide the knowledge and actions needed to reduce or eliminate mismanaged and excessive waste. The program uses four educational modules focused on (1) microplastics in the watershed, (2) food waste, (3) single-use plastics, and (4) involvement in community prevention and removal programs. The program curriculum was written to meet education standards in Mississippi for 5th grade gifted, 6–8th grades, and 9–12th grades, and can be easily adapted to other states’ curriculums. The program provides material incentives to participants so knowledge learned can immediately be translated to behavior change. The program is continually being developed to find the best methods to implement behavior change at multiple scales.

Keywords: mismanaged waste; waste reduction; prevention; awareness; education; outreach; marine debris; litter; behavior change; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/11/4823/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/11/4823/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4823-:d:1409341

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().