Strengthening Pro-Environmental Behavior through Methane Gas Utilization and Environmental Education at Talangagung Landfill

Abstract

Despite increasing attention to pro-environmental behavior, previous studies have largely examined environmental education and renewable energy utilization separately, leaving limited understanding of how their integration relates to sustainable behavioral change in landfill communities. This study addresses this gap by examining how environmental education integrated with methane gas utilization is associated with pro-environmental behavior among communities surrounding TPA Talangagung, Malang Regency, Indonesia. Using a qualitative case study design, the study involved 30 purposively selected participants, comprising community members, landfill managers, waste workers, and local government officials. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis and analyzed using thematic analysis through coding, categorization, and theme development. The findings reveal four key dimensions: environmental education was associated with environmental literacy and ecological responsibility; participants reported that methane gas utilization provided household fuel savings of IDR 50,000–100,000 per month while encouraging environmental participation; community participation was reflected in waste segregation, composting, and collective environmental maintenance; and institutional support contributed to program sustainability through infrastructure and local policies. However, unequal environmental literacy, infrastructure limitations, and inconsistent policy implementation remained significant challenges. Theoretically, this study contributes to pro-environmental behavior research by showing how environmental education and methane gas utilization may operate as complementary components in supporting environmental commitment. Practically, the proposed four-pillar model offers an adaptable framework for community-based landfill management. These findings contribute to environmental education and sustainability research by offering an integrated model for community-based environmental transformation.