The Effect of a Recycling Program Based on the PRECEDE PROCEED Model on Recycling Awareness and Behaviors of Middle School Students: A Randomized Controlled Study

The most fundamental reason for environmental pollution, the increase in environmental problems, and environmental damage is the rapid industrialization and the resulting increase in the use of fossil fuels. Acid rain, climate change, unplanned urbanization, desertification, and deforestation are among the leading environmental problems. It is humans who harm and pollute the environment, and it is humans who are most affected by this situation. These significant environmental problems pose serious threats to human health. Increased production and consumption are important factors in the increase of environmental problems. Furthermore, negative externalities are at the root of environmental problems. Those who profit from consumption and production activities cause harm to other people as a result of environmental pollution. Individuals who are not involved in the production and consumption processes also indirectly bear costs. Therefore, environmental problems are not local but global in nature. Consequently, implemented environmental policies and efforts to combat environmental problems should also be global in scope. In such a situation, costs are borne by all stakeholders, whether they contribute to pollution or not. Environmental health and protection, like other components of public health, should be the responsibility of a wide range of professionals and sectors, not just one profession or discipline. Multi-sectoral collaboration is the key to planning and implementing community-based interventions to foster environmental awareness. This process requires a joint effort among policymakers, community authorities, local leaders, and community members in general. Involving all elements of the community from the outset is critical to ensuring access to accurate information and community support. At the local level, health authorities often play a leading role in implementing environmental health programs. These institutions also undertake significant responsibilities related to planning, construction, and waste management concerning the protection and improvement of environmental health. Today, environmental goals and initiatives are implemented across seven distinct areas: fostering environmental awareness around sustainable development, promoting reduced energy consumption, increasing environmental sensitivity in transportation, reducing paper consumption, separating all waste at source, limiting the use of harmful chemicals, and considering environmental policies in all procurement processes. Sustainable development can be achieved through practices that embrace the goal of environmental protection with the understanding of "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This concept includes not only the necessity of environmental protection but also the synergistic coexistence of ecological, economic, and social standards. Health professionals play a critical role in fostering positive attitudes and behaviors towards the community through environmental health programs. These professionals utilize individual and community-level theories in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs aimed at improving health behavior. They aim to improve public health by implementing various strategies such as interpersonal communication, printed materials, interactive computer technologies, and media campaigns. Furthermore, health professionals need to possess the skills to effectively apply health behavior theories and the necessary competencies in designing contemporary programs that address the public. Success requires focusing on addressing behavioral risks underlying significant health problems. These problems, which significantly threaten public health, necessitate that all healthcare professionals, especially nurses, be more sensitive to environmental issues. Today, environmental health stands out as a significant part of healthcare and nursing practice. Nurses play a critical role in understanding the impacts of environmental factors on individual health and informing the public about these issues. In this context, environmental health and environmental sustainability topics are included in nursing education. The training nurses receive in the field of environmental health enhances their knowledge and skills, thereby improving the quality of healthcare services. Environmental health education enables nurses to respond more effectively to community health problems and encourages them to take leadership roles in environmental justice and health equity. Nurses undertake the task of informing the public about the prevention and management of environmental health problems, evaluating the impacts of environmental factors on health, and developing strategies to mitigate these impacts. Furthermore, nurses identify and address environmental health problems.