CONSCIOUSNESS AND ART: RECYCLABLE PAPER WORKSHOPS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Abstract

The problem of solid waste in Brazil and in the world is a growing and worrying topic today. In the State of Sergipe, the negative impacts of the inadequate disposal of solid waste and the absence of effective recycling projects are noted in the quality of water and impact on biodiversity. In Itabaiana, the dump located on the banks of the ‘Rota do Sertão’, a route of BR 235 that leads to the most important tourist sites of the region from Aracaju, the State capital, emerges as a desolate scenario. Idealized with the main objective of raising awareness among the population, and instilling a sense of citizenship, this work resulted from a university extension project. The work had a qualitative character and shows the activities developed in the handicraft workshops. Art workshops with recycled paper were carried out, seeking to show the value of paper, as well as the damage to health and environmental damage caused by solid waste. Participants and their families were encouraged to recycle garbage to be able to integrate the craft workshops by bringing materials from their homes. Informal debates were held during the workshops as part of an Environmental Education process. In this way, we hope to have made participants aware and minimized the negative effects of waste by reducing its volume.