ABSTRACT

THIS THESIS EXPLORES THE IMPACT OF WASTE-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORIENTATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND BEHAVIOR OF THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG, SPECIFICALLY IN REGARD TO THE ISSSUE OF THE PLANNED WASTE CHARGING SCHEME. AS WASTE MANAGEMENT BECOMES A PRESSING ISSUE ACROSS EAST ASIA, PARTICULARLY IN DENSELY POPULATED REGIONS, THIS RESEARCH INVESTIGATES HOW GOVERNMENT-PROMOTED EDUCATIONAL AND POLICY EFFORTS INFLUENCE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE IN RELATION TO MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE REDUCTION. USING A MIXED-METHODS APPROACH, THIS STUDY COMBINES QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS WITH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FROM FOUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND QUANTITATIVE SURVEY RESPONSES FROM OVER 100 RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG. THE FINDINGS REVEAL VARYING LEVELS OF AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS REGARDING THE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE CHARGING SCHEME IN HONG KONG, WITH SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTION ACROSS AGE, OCCUPATION, AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. THE DATA FURTHER SUGGEST THAT WHILE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND CAMPAIGNS DO CONTRIBUTE TO KNOWLEDGE ENHANCEMENT, ACTUAL BEHAVIORAL CHANGE DEPENDS HEAVILY ON POLICY CLARITY, PERCEIVED FAIRNESS, AND ACCESSIBILITY OF WASTE-REDUCING INFRASTRUCTURE. COMPARATIVE INSIGHTS FROM OTHER EAST ASIAN CONTEXTS SUCH AS TAIWAN, SOUTH KOREA, AND JAPAN ARE ALSO EXAMINED TO HIGHLIGHT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTEGRATED EDUCATION AND POLICY APPROACHES. THIS THESIS CONCLUDES THAT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WHEN PAIRED WITH CONSISTENT GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION, REWARD/PUNISHMENT MECHANISMS, AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IS CRITICAL IN SHAPING SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR IMPROVING PROGRAM DELIVERY AND EXPANDING FUTURE RESEARCH INTO LONG-TERM BEHAVIORAL IMPACTS.