This work reports on the involvement of social actors (teachers and students) from a rural area en the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the development of a program for participative management of city refuse. This program of education and environmental management included: a) investigation of teachers and students representations' about refuse; b) research about the city´s refuse situation; c) development of a participative program of local refuse management. We present results from three levels: a) observations of improvements about the city´s refuse situation; b) construction of new parameters in the relationship between teachers and students with their knowledge; c) change in the teachers and students attitudes' towards the environment. Through the written work, drawings and cognitive maps of students, and observations of improvements in the cleanliness of the local environment, we conclude that this program which involves research and analysis of the environmental problems, with subjectivity producing instruments can contribute to the organization of spaces of autonomy which enable individuals to modify their environment.
education; environmental management; refuse
