Public University Houses Community Garden to Promote Sustainability in São Paulo

The objective of this article is to analyse the extensions of sustainability in the public education sector, considering the perception change of teachers, students and the community regarding the use of public spaces to implement a community garden in the University of São Paulo Medical School (FMUSP). Launched in 2013, it aimed to address issues related to environmental education and shared waste management. Nowadays, in addition to permanent education and awareness activities, environmental techniques are also applied, pursuing sustainability through natural resources conservation, conscious consumption and reduction of waste, promotion of three R’s concept (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and reduction of the ecological footprint of both individuals and institutions. The employed method used interviews with the creators of this project and with some of its participants as well. It was possible to verify that public education and environmental management operating together could promote and intensify the reduction of the waste of raw materials and increasingly scarce resources, such as water and energy. Finally, it is recommendable to apply some practical measures such as outlining tactics that generate recognition of this partnership, the value of its activities and the reputation of the agencies involved.