What’s in the container?

Public Exhibition of Urban Solid Waste in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to discuss the relevance of critical Environmental Education (EE) in addressing urban solid waste management issues, highlighting the limitations of reductionist and pragmatic approaches that still prevail in educational practices.

Methodology: The work was developed within the scope of the extension project “Environmental Education as an Educational Process for Urban Solid Waste Management”, linked to the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), Dois Vizinhos Campus. The activity was carried out during the 2025 Environment Week in Francisco Beltrão (PR), through the event “What’s in the container?”, which consisted of the public opening of an organic waste container. The proposal aimed to reveal the local reality of waste collection, promote dialogue among different social actors, and raise community awareness about the consequences of improper waste disposal.

Originality/Relevance: The study proposes a critical and participatory approach to EE, going beyond the merely instrumental nature of actions focused on recycling and waste collection. Based on authors such as Layrargues (2002) and Gonzaga (2016), the work highlights the need for Environmental Education that addresses political, social, and cultural dimensions, as guided by the National Environmental Education Policy (Law No. 9.795/99), the 1988 Federal Constitution, and the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC, 2017).

Results: The waste analysis revealed that approximately half of the container’s contents consisted of recyclable materials mixed with organic waste, which made their reuse and/or recycling unfeasible. This result demonstrated deficiencies in the segregation process, a lack of public awareness, and non-compliance with the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) goals. The action, therefore, highlighted the gap between environmental legislation and the daily practice of waste management.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions: The project reaffirms the importance of continuous teacher education, as pointed out by Valentin (2014), and demonstrates the potential of university extension in linking teaching, research, and social practice, as defended by Sousa et al. (2017). Methodologically, the activity exemplifies using critical EE as an investigative and dialogical tool, integrating academic and popular knowledge and fostering collective reflection on sustainability and socio-environmental responsibility.

Social and Environmental Contributions: The action generated social impact by involving students, teachers, waste collection workers, and public authorities in a space for dialogue and reflection on waste management. From an environmental perspective, it raised community awareness about the importance of proper material separation and reduced impacts such as soil and water contamination. Thus, it reinforces the relevance of non-formal Environmental Education and university extension as instruments of social transformation and promoters of sustainable practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).