A Study of School Waste Disposal Status and Its Reforms (Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Seoul)

학교 쓰레기 처리현황과 개선에 관한 연구 - 서울시 공립 초.중등학교를 대상으로 -

The purpose of this study was to survey the trends of waste products in schools, its gathering and disposal, identification of problems and to analyze its disposal. Moreover, this study was aimed at basic suggestions about the establishment and plans of waste environmental education. 98 public primary and secondary schools were surveyed in Seoul during the month of March and April, 1991. Information was collected from each educational association by random sampling. Questionaries were used for this survey. To understand the disposal status of school waste and its reforms, this study surveyed the amount of waste by products, their origin and analyzed the disposal by type, one number of schools and teachers involved. The dump sited and disposal methods of school waste, its problems, and the status of school waste educations were researched, and ideal disposal methods and plans for waste education were suggested. The results were as follows. 1. The School's trash was produced by followings: paper, vinyle plastics, food, woods, metals, ceramics, glass, bottles, and ash from the heating system. The biggest cause of the school's waste as shown by the survey was a lack of environmental awareness(39.8%). The second biggest was the use of a one time use of disposable paper products(27.6%). 2. Waste collection by different grade levels were proven to be important but as you move from elementary to high school, the waste collecting operation decreased, in this connection between the students and waste collection itself it was significant on the other hand the teachers were not working as significant variables. 3. Of the school that collected waste 69.5 percent of the schools separately grouped common waste and recyclable waste. 25 schools(42.4%) received improvement on their environmental awareness of trash collection through this method. 4. From the number of disposal sites in surveyed schools, it was determined that the education of the necessity for separation of waste was performed in vain and accordingly the should require a real education in the future. 5. Regarding the method of disposal of waste the survey indicated that the #1 method of disposal was partial burning and the remains carried to a dump site by others(35,7%). In elementary schools the entire waste was taken by individuals to a dump site (33.3%). In high schools partial burning and then transported by individuals #1 in our survey(50%). 6. Relative to the problem of the treatment to waste, the emission of smoke from the burning was considered to be the #1 priority in our survey (62.3%) the problem of trash collection being delayed was 52.1%(1in our survey). 7. The present situation of environmental education of waste us lacking. Under present circumstances, the practice of public announcements for improvement and waste-paper collection has been going on vigorously but lacking in education as to the preparation of compositions for students the themes of public exhibitions, the organizing of voluntary associations should be part of the education system to reinforce student's awareness of proper waste disposal. 8. The most economical alternative for disposal was recycling usable waste or combustible material through a variety of education we can therefore educate students bring this education to their homes public servants will also be able to benefit in the waste disposal process with proper education. In conclusion we should intensify the systemical organization and the education of our waste disposal for a better environment.