This work is the result of a survey on the disposal of household rubbish, with students from the rural and urban areas of the municipality of Restinga Sêca, RS. Concern about rubbish is one of the environmental problems that threaten life on Earth, because as well as polluting the soil, water and air, it also attracts countless insects and animals that cause disease. The environment must be part of the life of every citizen and their leaders. In order to bring about socio-environmental change, it is important to raise awareness and reflect on the issues promoted by environmental education, as well as to involve society in learning about citizenship. It is from this perspective that Environmental Education has become a concern for a large part of humanity. In view of this, this diagnosis could subsidise future actions within the school environment aimed at remedying any shortcomings.