Perception and Barriers to Effective Implement of Circular Economy in Waste Management in Isoko South in Delta State (Published)
The circular economy (CE) offers a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear model of waste management by promoting recycling, reuse, and resource efficiency. This study examined the perception and barriers to the effective implementation of CE in waste management in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving a sample of 3,223 participants selected from twelve rural communities using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a validated self-structured instrument titled Perception and Barriers to Effective Implementation of Circular Economy in Waste Management Questionnaire (PBEICEWMQ) with a reliability index of 0.89. The instrument contained 24 items, including demographic variables and 20 CE-related items measured on a 4-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27 employing percentage, mean and standard deviations as statistical tools. Demographic data revealed that 52.3% of respondents were female, while 47.7% were male. In terms of age, 61.8% were between 26–50 years, 22.4% were aged 15–25, and 15.8% were above 50 years. It was found that the participants had a positive perception towards the implementation of circular economy in waste management with aggregate mean score of 3.03±0.863. it was also found that despite the participants’ positive perceptions, a plethora of barriers towards effective implementation of CE in WM which included Low public awareness about circular economy (Mean = 3.40 ± 0.74); Lack of government policies and support (Mean = 3.15 ± 1.02); Cultural attitudes toward waste (Mean = 2.60 ± 0.97); and Lack of collaboration among stakeholders (Mean = 2.60 ± 0.74) among others. The study concluded that although public perception toward CE in waste management was positive, implementation was hindered by systemic barriers. It recommended enhanced public education and awareness, along with government investment in infrastructure and collaborative stakeholder engagement to support circular economy adoption and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12(Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13(Climate Action)
Keywords: Effective Implementation, Perceptions, Waste Management, circular economy, perceived barriers
Future Greek Pre-Service Teachers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Self-Efficacy in Waste Management (Published)
This quantitative survey examined the knowledge, attitudes, perceived competence, willingness and everyday practices of 46 final-year pre-service teachers at Democritus University of Thrace (Greece) in relation to solid waste and wastewater management. Using a structured questionnaire, the study shows familiarity with most key waste terms, confidence to implement Environmental Education Programmes (EEPs) and personal recycling habits. Findings show basic literacy yet sizeable gaps in technical concepts (like Residual-waste landfills and Wastewater Treatment Plants. Perceived competence was moderate-to-low, particularly for wastewater, whereas willingness to participate in EEPs remained high. Common household recycling was stated as frequent, but specialised actions such as medicine, used-oil recycling or composting were rare. The enthusiasm–competence gap underscores the need for practical, skills-focused training in teacher preparation, enabling future educators to motivate effectively waste-management behaviours.
Keywords: Environmental Education., Greece, Perceived competence, Pre-Service Teachers, Waste Management