A Study on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Solid Waste Management among High School Students in a Private School in Kabankalan City

Solid waste management represents a pressing environmental challenge. Although schools play a crucial role in shaping sustainable behaviors, a persistent gap exists in which students’ environmental awareness does not consistently translate into physical action. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding solid waste management among high school students at Fellowship Baptist College in Kabankalan City to determine their interrelationships and demographic influences. The researchers employed a descriptive-correlational design and administered a validated survey checklist to a proportionally stratified sample of 310 respondents drawn from 779 junior and senior high school students. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlation, independent samples t-tests, and Analysis of Variance. The results showed that respondents have High knowledge and Very High attitudes, which significantly connect with their High daily practices. Strong positive relationships were found among all three variables. Although sex did not significantly affect waste management practices, age and grade level significantly influenced adherence to environmental protocols. Notably, the findings suggest a possible gap between students' strong internal attitudes and their actual daily practices. Rather than firmly concluding that a lack of school infrastructure is the absolute bottleneck, the study points out that high environmental values do not automatically guarantee perfect daily execution. School leaders are encouraged to explore simplifying waste-sorting systems on campus, while future research should use direct observations and physical waste audits to identify true behavioral barriers.