Education Environment as a Preventive Measure Pollution Plastic waste
DOI:
10.29303/jppipa.v12i6.15475Published:
2026-06-25Downloads
Abstract
Plastic waste pollution is a growing environmental problem, with the consequences of very high plastic use and increasingly severe environmental damage. Public awareness of waste management is also declining. This condition has negative impacts on the environment, such as soil, river, and sea pollution, and threatens human health and ecosystem sustainability. This study aims to analyze the role of environmental education in preventing plastic waste pollution and increasing public awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. This study uses a qualitative approach with a literature review method by collecting data from various scientific journals, books, and research reports. The results of recent studies published in 2020–2024 indicate that environmental education has a significant influence in shaping public knowledge, attitudes, and behavior towards plastic waste management. Education conducted through schools, families, communities, and digital media has been proven to increase public awareness to reduce plastic use, sort waste, and maintain a clean environment. Furthermore, practice-based educational programs are considered more effective in shaping environmentally conscious behavior than purely theoretical approaches. However, the implementation of environmental education still faces various obstacles, such as low community participation, a lack of waste management facilities, and a lack of continuing education programs. Therefore, collaboration between the government, educational institutions, families, and communities is needed to strengthen the educational environment to reduce plastic waste pollution effectively and sustainably.
Keywords:
Educational environment Environmental pollution Plastic waste Waste managementReferences
Abahussain, A. A. M., Nasr, F. A., bin Jumah, A., Saravanan, P., Kumar, N. S., Al-Zharani, M., Guganathan, L., Sasikumar, G., Alsalamah, S. A., Qurtam, A. A., & others. (2025). Toxic threats from plastic waste: human health impacts, challenges, and policy solutions. RSC Advances, 15(48), 40761–40788. https://doi.org/10.1039/d5ra05845g
Abedsoltan, H. (2024). Applications of plastics in the automotive industry: Current trends and future perspectives. Polymer Engineering & Science, 64(3), 929–950. https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.26604
Akande, M. (2023). Sustainable solution for plastic waste management and education campaigns to mitigate plastic consumption and foster behavior change. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1090
Akintunde, E., & Akintunde, C. (2023). Acquisition and use of environmental education in solid waste management practices. Journal of STEAM Education, 6(2), 143–160. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/steam/article/1149800
Citaristi, I. (2022). United nations environment programme—UNEP. In The Europa directory of international organizations 2022 (pp. 193–199). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003292548-46
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Dey, S., Veerendra, G. T. N., Babu, P. S. S. A., Manoj, A. V. P., & Nagarjuna, K. (2024). Degradation of plastics waste and its effects on biological ecosystems: A scientific analysis and comprehensive review. Biomedical Materials & Devices, 2(1), 70–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/S44174-023-00085-W
Donuma, K. U., Ma, L., Bu, C., George, L.-Y., Gashau, M., & Suleiman, A. O. (2024). Environmental and human health risks of indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste and sachet water bags in Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria. Waste Management Bulletin, 2(2), 130–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2024.04.002
Gautam, B. P. S., Qureshi, A., Gwasikoti, A., Kumar, V., & Gondwal, M. (2024). Global scenario of plastic production, consumption, and waste generation and their impacts on environment and human health. In Advanced strategies for biodegradation of plastic polymers (pp. 1–34). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55661-6_1
Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7), e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
Islam, M. S., Lee, Z., Shaleh, A., & Soo, H. Sen. (2024). The United Nations Environment Assembly resolution to end plastic pollution: Challenges to effective policy interventions. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(5), 10927–10944. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03639-6
Jose, S., Patrick, P. G., & Moseley, C. (2017). Experiential learning theory: The importance of outdoor classrooms in environmental education. International Journal of Science Education, Part B, 7(3), 269–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2016.1272144
Khoaele, K. K., Gbadeyan, O. J., Chunilall, V., & Sithole, B. (2023). The devastation of waste plastic on the environment and remediation processes: a critical review. Sustainability, 15(6), 5233. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065233
Macheca, A. D., Mutuma, B., Adalima, J. L., Midheme, E., Lúcas, L. H. M., Ochanda, V. K., & Mhlanga, S. D. (2024). Perspectives on plastic waste management: challenges and possible solutions to ensure its sustainable use. Recycling, 9(5), 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling9050077
Martono, D. N. (2023). Potential Impact of Disposable Mask Garbage Pollution in Cinere District. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(9), 6841–6847. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i9.4348
Mielinger, E., & Weinrich, R. (2023). A review on consumer sorting behaviour: Spotlight on food and fast moving consumer goods plastic packaging. Environmental Development, 47, 100890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2023.100890
Musa, I. O., Abdulhakeem, A. I., Abdulsalam, M., Livinus, M. U., Salam, O. L., Elelu, S.-A., Muhammad, A. S., Samuel, J. O., & Mustapha, A. (2025). The Effects of Marine White Pollution on Higher Animals, Plants, and the Food Chain. In White Pollution: Biodiversity and hazards in marine plastisphere (pp. 35–51). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-95547-1_2
Ningsih, N. R., Suryaman, M., Wahyudin, U., & others. (2025). Academic supervision based on learning management system in improving teacher performance. Research Horizon, 5(6), 3211–3222. https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.5.6.2025.939
Ningsih, R., Rachmawati, A., Syamsir, V. F. E., & Thohira, M. C. (2025). Pelatihan Guru UKS se-Kota Samarinda untuk mewujudkan sekolah sehat mencetak generasi hebat. SELAPARANG: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Berkemajuan. Retrieved from https://journal.ummat.ac.id/index.php/jpmb/article/download/34042/13122
Prasetyo, H. (2026). Strengthening Anti-Corruption Education Values among Millennials through Community-Based Civic Education: A Community Service Program in Lubuklinggau, Indonesia. Edupro: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 2(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.65793/e-jppkm.2026.104
Ramadan, A. H., Sembiring, E., Rahardyan, B., & Kardhana, H. (2026). Mapping mismanaged plastic waste in Indonesia: subdistrict-level analysis through material flow from sources to the environment. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41849-w
Saribas, D. (2025). Analysing pre-service elementary teachers’ scientific literacy through environmental issues: the case of plastic waste and waste management. International Journal of Science Education, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2025.2547412
Soni, A. (2024). Plastic Pollution and Its Impact on Marine Ecosystems. INTESAB AALAMI, 12(7), 6–13. Retrieved from https://intesabaalami.org/index.php/ia/article/view/10
UNEP. (2021). From Pollution to Solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/resources/pollution-solution-global-assessment-marine-litter-and-plastic-pollution
Widat, F., Wulandari, I., Wijayanti, R. F., & Magfirotin, M. (2025). Implementing Waste Sorting as a Sustainable Environmental Awareness Practice for Early Childhood Education. Communautaire: Journal of Community Service, 4(2), 167–179. https://doi.org/10.61987/communautaire.v4i2.1164
Wulandari, R., Iswara, A. P., Qadafi, M., Prayogo, W., Astuti, R. D. P., Utami, R. R., Jayanti, M., Awfa, D., Suryawan, I. W. K., Fitria, L., & others. (2024). Water pollution and sanitation in Indonesia: a review on water quality, health and environmental impacts, management, and future challenges. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(58), 65967–65992. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-35567-x
Yose, P., Thondhlana, G., & Fraser, G. (2023). Conceptualizing the socio-cultural impacts of marine plastic pollution on human well-being--A perspective. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 194, 115285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115285
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Asramid Yasin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY License). This license allows authors to use all articles, data sets, graphics, and appendices in data mining applications, search engines, web sites, blogs, and other platforms by providing an appropriate reference. The journal allows the author(s) to hold the copyright without restrictions and will retain publishing rights without restrictions.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
