C-Waste: Environmental education for sustainable development in urban communities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37636/recit.v9n3e462Keywords:
Sustainable development, Environmental education, Urban solid wasteAbstract
Municipal solid waste management is a critical global challenge, necessitating a transition from traditional disposal methods to circular economy approaches and behavioral change. This article presents the development and analysis of C-Waste, an environmental education mobile application designed to foster sustainable waste management and responsible consumption in urban communities, specifically in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. The objective is to evaluate how digital technologies can facilitate behavioral change and environmental awareness. Adopting a case study methodology based on a pilot test carried out at the El Florido IV Section Community Center aimed at a population of 500 users, the research encompasses four stages: the design of a Business Model Canvas (BMC), the development of the mobile application, multi-channel public dissemination, and preliminary impact analysis. The results demonstrate the successful structuring of a viable BMC that aligns technological capabilities with socio-environmental objectives, ensuring economic sustainability. The app effectively translates complex ecological data into an accessible tool featuring gamification and the 5R framework (refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle). Furthermore, a robust omnichannel digital strategy (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook) was deployed to maximize community engagement. In conclusion, the C-Waste initiative illustrates that integrating digital engagement, structured pedagogical models, and strategic multisectoral alliances effectively bridges the information-action gap, empowering citizens to adopt sustainable habits and contributing significantly to urban environmental education.
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Data Availability Statement
All relevant data supporting the findings of this study, including the conceptual design and the Business Model Canvas of the C-Waste application, are available within the article. No additional external datasets were generated during this phase of the research
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