Lack of Education in Waste Management: Argumentative Essay Analysis

This argumentative essay addresses the critical issue of the lack of education in waste management and its far-reaching consequences. The essay begins by highlighting the challenges developing countries face due to inadequate waste management practices, which lead to pollution and environmental degradation. It explores the viewpoints of various researchers, emphasizing the role of municipalities, financial resources, and the need for public awareness. The essay discusses the benefits of the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management model and the importance of educating individuals on waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. It further examines the impact of insufficient knowledge on green approaches and sustainable strategies, as well as the necessity of promoting waste management practices among healthcare providers and students. The essay also considers the role of innovative technologies, information campaigns, and the importance of implementing waste management practices in businesses and communities. The conclusion stresses the need for knowledge to improve environmental protection and reduce waste levels.

Running head: LACK OF EDUCATION IN WASTE MANAGEMENT
Lack of education in waste management
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Introduction
The essay is prepared to discuss about the lack of education elated to the management of
wastes and how it can give rise to various issues, furthermore affect the environment negatively
as well. As it is an argumentative essay, it will discuss about the opinions and responses of
multiple authors and researchers who have acquired knowledge and information on the essay
subject. This will not only help in representing the both sides of the essay along with its positives
and negatives (Thyberg & Tonjes, 2016).
According to Guerrero, Maas & Hogland (2013), there are various waste management
challenges experienced in the developing countries nowadays and this has been one of the major
causes of pollution and unhealthy environment. Thus, it is essential for gaining proper
knowledge on the management of wastes and ensures keeping the environment clean,
furthermore maintain an ecological balance in nature with ease and effectiveness (Guerrero,
Maas & Hogland, 2013). Guerrero, Maas & Hogland (2013) also stated that the lack of education
and knowledge mainly has been caused due to lack of efforts put by the municipalities and waste
management workers, due to which, there have been more challenges associated with the
providing of an effective waste management system for the people living in Australia. Lack of
education is facilitated furthermore due to the lack of proper financial resources and inability to
promote necessary aspects related to the management of wastes (Zuo & Zhao, 2014). The
Integrated Sustainable Waste Management model can be helpful for studying about the various
aspects of the complex and multi-dimensional system, furthermore create scopes for people to
gain education and knowledge regarding the management of wastes during the urban
environment and development.

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As stated by Bolden, Abu-Lebdeh & Fini (2013), people often are involved in activities
that generate wastes in larger amounts and it is beyond their knowledge due to lack of education
on waste management. It is important to make them aware and promote waste management
programs for making them accustomed with the ways of managing wastes, furthermore learn to
utilize the waste materials or may even recycle those to prevent further generation of wastes
(Bolden, Abu-Lebdeh & Fini, 2013).
Thyberg & Tonjes (2016), on the other hand, stated that the drivers of food wastes are
needed to be identified, which can facilitate education and knowledge about the management of
wastes, furthermore create scopes for the development of sustainable policy. This has been
aimed at reducing the generation of wastes and focus on sustainable measures undertaken to
prevent land pollution and water contamination through reduction of carbon emissions and
managing natural gas fueled power plants and machineries too (Thyberg & Tonjes, 2016).
Thyberg & Tonjes (2016) also argued that there are evidences that showed that the replacement
of raw materials with the materials that could be recycled should assist in reducing the
dependence on the raw materials, furthermore enhance the rates if reusable and recycled waste
materials. Lack of education has made many people unaware of the potential negative impacts
that might be created due to the generation of wastes and this has resulted in polluting the
environment and degrading the environmental conditions too (Licy et al., 2013). Thus, lack of
education and knowledge on the management of wastes could be inappropriate considering its
negative impact on the environment and even making people unaware of the negative effects that
might be created in the future as well. Nagaraju et al. (2013) argued that the knowledge and
practice on bio-medical waste management are also required to be promoted among the health

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care service providers to prepare informational reports that are to be transferred to the care
workers within a health care organization (Nagaraju et al., 2013).
As stated by Zuo & Zhao (2014), the lack of education on management of wastes could
also contribute to lack of implementing the right green approaches that might prevent
sustainability management too. It is important to manage green buildings and at the same time,
manage sustainable green strategies to make sure that the wastes are not only generated in lesser
amounts, but also adopt the greener and environment friendly strategies to keep the environment
clean and safe by dumping lesser amounts of wastes (Zuo & Zhao, 2014). According to Licy et
al. (2013), though awareness is created about the management of wastes, still due to lack of
practices related to the management of wastes, people often neglect it all throughout. The school
students and college students are the individuals who are needed to be made aware of regarding
management of household wastes, which can not only contribute to the well being of the houses
and management of wastes in a structured manner, but will also allow them to make other people
aware through word of mouth and prevent generating wastes to the utmost level possible (Licy et
al., 2013). It is a major global issue and the management of wastes, if not done properly, can also
lead to critical health related diseases caused due to the wastes. Torretta et al. (2013) also argued
that the management of wastes generated from the use of electrical and electronic equipments
could further contribute to the successful management of greener approaches supported with the
use of innovative technologies. The new and innovative technologies could further promote
effective educational activities and identify the relevant and most appropriate actions to be
undertaken for helping the people and making them aware of collecting wastes regularly to
prevent pollution (Torretta et al., 2013). This has also been supported by effective information
campaigns and educational scopes provided to children and people have efficiently made people

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less susceptible to risks associated with the generation of wastes. The preventive measures
should be undertaken to ensure that the waste reduction processes could be managed with much
convenience and effectively as well.
Waste management is one of the major concerns that are faced by businesses and
communities. Therefore, suitable knowledge on the waste management practices helps in
enhancing the operations of the same while operating in diverse economies. Guerrero, Maas
and Hogland (2013) stated that knowledge plays a major role in maintaining the efficacy of the
waste management procedures. Different non- governmental organizations have taken up the
initiative of making the communities aware of the practices that might be undertaken by the
same in order to mitigate environmental issues relating to wastes. The identification of the
outcomes of the activities of waste management helps in enhancing the operations. Zaman
(2014) stated that the different practices yield diverse outcomes which might be beneficial or
harmful for the environments. Lack of formal education on the waste management practices has
affected the results dynamically, which has resulted to environmental degradations.
Certain institutions like SUEZ take the initiative of making the businesses, governments
and communities aware of the different waste management practices to protect and optimize the
utilization of natural resources. Sampaio, Thomas and Font (2012) stated that the impartation of
knowledge based on waste management practices helps in enhancing the operations of the
stakeholders while actively involving them in the environment friendly measures. However,
Udawatta et al., (2015) argued that knowledge that is imparted to the individuals on the waste
management practices is insufficient until it is implemented on the practices undertaken by the

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same. Therefore, it might be stated that the knowledge of knowledge management helps
communities through the safe implementation of the procedures in practical fields.
The knowledge of waste management makes the individuals, businesses and communities
aware of the different policies that are imposed by the government on the nation in order to avoid
situations of environmental degradations. Zaman (2014) stated that the proper identification of
the policies and regulations that are imposed by the government helps the communities and
businesses in monitoring over the processes that are undertaken by the same in order to enhance
the environmental protection objectives. However, Brunner and Rechberger (2015) argued that
meager understanding of the policies is insufficient for supporting environmental sustainability
until the measures are implemented on the operations. Marshall and Farahbakhsh (2013) stated
that the introduction of the waste management practices to businesses and communities helps in
reducing the costs that might be incurred by the same during the processes. Guerrero, Maas and
Hogland (2013) negated the notion by stating that the initial investments that are required to be
undertaken by the organizations and communities for following the waste management practices
might cause disruptions in the process.
Conclusion
Therefore, the lack of knowledge might affect the waste management practices that are
undertaken by businesses or communities. However, the identification of the outcome that
would be encountered by the stakeholders through the practice is one of the major criteria that
helps in boosting the environment friendly measures in the organizational context. The
involvement of the organization in the waste management practices through the knowledge that
is imparted to the same will be helping in reducing the levels of waste in the nation. However,

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the identification of the outcome of the practices will be helping to maintain the efficacy of the
functions that are planned by businesses and communities.

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References
Bolden, J., Abu-Lebdeh, T., & Fini, E. (2013). Utilization of recycled and waste materials in
various construction applications. American Journal of Environmental Science, 9(1), 14-
24.
Brunner, P. H., & Rechberger, H. (2015). Waste to energy–key element for sustainable waste
management. Waste Management, 37, 3-12.
Guerrero, L. A., Maas, G., & Hogland, W. (2013). Solid waste management challenges for cities
in developing countries. Waste management, 33(1), 220-232.
Guerrero, L. A., Maas, G., & Hogland, W. (2013). Solid waste management challenges for cities
in developing countries. Waste management, 33(1), 220-232.
Licy, C. D., Vivek, R., Saritha, K., Anies, T. K., & Josphina, C. T. (2013). Awareness, attitude
and practice of school students towards household waste management. Journal of
Environment, 2(6), 147-150.
Marshall, R. E., & Farahbakhsh, K. (2013). Systems approaches to integrated solid waste
management in developing countries. Waste Management, 33(4), 988-1003.
Nagaraju, B., Padmavathi, G. V., Puranik, D. S., Shantharaj, M. P., & Sampulatha, S. P. (2013).
A study to assess the knowledge and practice on bio-medical waste management among
the health care providers working in PHCs of Bagepalli Taluk with the view to prepare
informational booklet. International Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research, 2(1),
28-35.
Sampaio, A. R., Thomas, R., & Font, X. (2012). Small business management and environmental
engagement. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(2), 179-193.

8LACK OF EDUCATION IN WASTE MANAGEMENT
Thyberg, K. L., & Tonjes, D. J. (2016). Drivers of food waste and their implications for
sustainable policy development. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 106, 110-123.
Torretta, V., Ragazzi, M., Istrate, I. A., & Rada, E. C. (2013). Management of waste electrical
and electronic equipment in two EU countries: a comparison. Waste Management, 33(1),
117-122.
Udawatta, N., Zuo, J., Chiveralls, K., & Zillante, G. (2015). Improving waste management in
construction projects: An Australian study. REsources, conservation and Recycling, 101,
73-83.
Zaman, A. U. (2014). Measuring waste management performance using the ‘Zero Waste Index’:
the case of Adelaide, Australia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 66, 407-419.
Zuo, J., & Zhao, Z. Y. (2014). Green building research–current status and future agenda: A
review. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 30, 271-281.

9LACK OF EDUCATION IN WASTE MANAGEMENT
Response to feedback through reflection
The reflection is based on the feedbacks provided in the assignment and it shows that the
academic information was not provided at all, which has been a major mistake from my side.
The global issue was not identified properly and it should have been linked with the arguments
made. While assessing the argumentative essay, it was found that introduction part of the essay
was not provided with proper thesis statement while I understood my weaknesses in gaining the
most relevant sources and doing multiple grammatical mistakes. Though I have tried to deal with
the grammatical errors to the utmost level possible, still some areas were left ignored, which
should be dealt with the use of proper approaches and ensure that plagiarism does not occur. I
should have used the grammarly website to prevent the grammatical mistakes largely,
furthermore should encourage critical thinking about the topic and ensure preparing arguments
while discussing about the topic with ease and effectiveness. Several weak sentences presented
in the essay shows that I need to improve myself and ensure that the thesis statement is
represented clearly with focus on achieving the goals and objectives of the research associated
with the lack of education on the management of wastes. This has also resulted in lack of
planning, which has further contributed to the emergence of various issues such as the sentences
prepared were not coherent with the topic sentences and thus the issues were neglected related to
the waste management. Proper training and development sessions should be arranged to make
the waste management workers careful about checking the amount of wastes on a regular basis,
furthermore ensure maintenance of a cleaner environment and making people more aware of the
ways of managing wastes. By obtaining the knowledge, it will not only help in progressing in my
professional career, but shall even allow me to grow and develop in terms of my skills and
expertise in the future as well.

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From the feedbacks, it could be understood that this was not done and the major cause
had been the lack of critical analysis, which further created complexities in researching on the
topic as well. The article or essay lacked certain aspects of sentence punctuation and re-
organizing. It could also be seen that the DOI was not provided, which could have helped in
evaluating the resources properly and analyze the research aspects effectively too. Based on the
existing literature presented in the essay, the argumentative essay has been prepared again and it
shows that the lack of education about waste management has made many people unable to get
accustomed with the practices associated with the management of wastes. This has also resulted
in pollution and created a negative impact on the environment, which should be overcome and it
would be possible with the help of spreading awareness among people through educational
campaigns and social awareness programs too. I have managed to understand my mistakes and
hope not to rectify any such errors again for ensuring that the grammatical mistakes are
overcome and successful research could be done. By assessing the various aspects of waste
management, I have also understood that not only education on waste management is essential,
but also need for understanding and adoption of greener approaches is important to foster an
environment friendly environment and keep the environment clean and safe all throughout.

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