Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward the Basurahan Project Among Grade 10 Students of a Philippine Public High School: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study examined the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of students toward the Basurahan Project as a basis for developing a School Waste Disposal Implementation Plan at Lourdes Empinado National High School. A descriptive quantitative research design was employed, involving 44 student respondents (n = 44) selected through total enumeration. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and weighted mean) and Pearson product–moment correlation to determine the associations among KAP variables. Findings indicated that students exhibited a high level of awareness of the Basurahan Project (95.5%), strong knowledge of waste management practices (overall mean = 4.16, Agree), and generally favorable attitudes toward proper waste disposal (overall mean = 3.86, Agree). However, students’ self-reported engagement in waste management practices was less consistent, with approximately 40% indicating limited participation, particularly in the use of reusable materials (mean = 3.30, Sometimes). Correlation analysis showed a moderate positive association between attitude and practice (r = 0.511, p < 0.001), suggesting that more favorable attitudes were related to higher levels of reported waste management practices. In contrast, no statistically significant association was found between knowledge and practice (p = 0.446). Additionally, no significant differences in KAP scores were observed when respondents were grouped according to age and sex. Overall, the results indicate that while students demonstrate adequate knowledge and positive attitudes toward waste management, these are not consistently reflected in their practices. The findings highlight the need for school-based strategies that emphasize participatory and behavior-focused approaches to strengthen the implementation of waste disposal initiatives within the school context.