Empowering Sustainable Communities: Integrating Environmentally and Socially Conscious Engineering Education for Effective Waste Resource Management

The vital importance of waste resource management (WRM) has gained unprecedented prominence in the global discourse, stimulated by escalating environmental challenges, the changing landscape of sustainability, and heightened public consciousness about waste management. At the forefront of this revolution is engineering education, which plays a pivotal role in catalysing systemic shifts in the WRM sector. An interdisciplinary exploration of this topic unearths the intricate web of social, cultural, and economic factors entrenched in WRM and the transformative potential of engineering education within this context. Engineering education, at its core, equips individuals with the necessary tools to develop innovative solutions for complex problems. In the context of WRM, these tools are not only technical but also encompass a comprehensive understanding of the social, cultural, and economic dynamics intrinsic to waste management. Emphasising the interplay between these attributes and the technological aspects of WRM ensures a more holistic approach to waste management, fostering sustainable development and enabling the transition to a circular economy. However, the realisation of this paradigm shift necessitates a deep exploration into the myriad ways in which engineering education can shape and be shaped by these sociocultural and economic factors. Recognising and addressing these cross-disciplinary influences is a challenging endeavour which requires an inclusive pedagogical approach that promotes interdisciplinary learning, encourages innovation, and embraces socio-technical perspectives. This chapter seeks to explore the pivotal role of engineering education in addressing the intertwined social, cultural, and economic dynamics in the waste resource management sector. By adopting an interdisciplinary lens, the chapter aims to illuminate the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, fostering a greater understanding of the transformative potential of engineering education in this crucial domain and entailing a successful case study from Sri Lanka.