Exploring the attitudes of students of the University of Malta towards waste separation and food waste

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to identify and evaluate the level of environmental consciousness of students at the University of Malta. In particular, it investigates students’ attitudes towards waste separation as well as drivers that would encourage them to move up the waste hierarchy by not contributing to the landfilling of waste. The research study also explored the root causes of food waste and the main reasons behind food waste amongst University of Malta students. The study investigated the views of participants by adopting a quantitative approach via questionnaires distributed online. 196 responses were obtained and the results from the questionnaire shed light on the students” level of awareness on waste. 85% of participants believe that recycling is important in order to reduce pollution, while 63% of participants agree with the statement “Recycling reduces the consumption of raw materials.” Furthermore, 93% of students claim that they are willing to alter their lifestyle to reduce the damage that they cause to the environment. The data served as a good basis for the design of a blog which aims to educate the public, particularly University of Malta students and young adults on how to be more environmentally conscious when making choices. This blog is free to access and is a suitable way to reach the target group.