Survey of Household Solid Waste Management and Waste Minimization in Malaysia: Awareness, Issues and Practices
Abstract
Effective solid waste management (SWM) is very crucial in every nation as it determines the sustainability of the environment and ensures the health of the society. This study examines households' awareness on household solid waste management and their opinion on the services provided by a solid waste management concessionaire in one of the regions in Malaysia. A survey on 398 respondents among households finds that the awareness on the privatization of SWM is acceptable and a majority of them are ignorant about the frequency of waste collection. However, the respondents' knowledge on waste and their understanding on the health consequences of waste are relatively good. The main problem expressed by respondents with respect to waste disposal is that collection schedules are not adhered to by the collectors. Disorderly disposal of rubbish is also perceived to be a problem, and a majority of the respondents believe that lack of awareness, knowledge and enforcement are the major causes of the problem. As far as waste minimization is concerned, respondents feel that the facilities and services provided are not adequate. Other than using the waste collection service, the households rarely practice other means of waste minimization such as to reuse, recycle, and compost. The role of regulators and concessionaires in educating the community so that the latter can play their role effectively is very crucial.
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Introduction
Malaysia is among the successful developing economy in terms of political stability and economic growth. However, the increase in urban population and rapid economic growth lead to the increase in solid waste generation. Similarly, the characteristics of solid waste have changed in the country due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization. It has also been noted globally that developing Asia are among the largest solid waste generators. Hence, there is a need for an effective practice of solid waste management to control the current waste generation in the region. This is because in any economy, the solid waste management is an important aspect of citizens' lifestyle and country's economic status. According to the United Nations Development Programme in 2008, waste management is a crucial aspect of sustaining the national development.
Not until 2007, when Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation Act 2007 (SWMPC Act 2007) came into place, solid waste management was the responsibility of local authorities in Malaysia. The Act, enforced in 2011, vests executive power to the Federal Government to implement solid waste management and public cleansing. It was enacted to ensure the uniformity of law relating to the management of solid waste and public cleansing throughout Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. On 20th September 2011, the Federal Government and several state governments sealed the 22-year concession agreement for solid waste management with three companies across Malaysia. All solid waste collection and urban cleansing services would now be under the purview of three concessionaires overseeing three zones, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and Pahang; Kedah and Perlis; and Johor, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan.
The privatization of solid waste management in Malaysia is aimed to solve the challenges faced by local authorities in managing solid waste, namely finance and cost management, lack of expertise and advanced technology, illegal dumping and lack of management skills on disposal and landfill system. The concessionaires are expected to improve and ensure high-quality services in solid waste management, and provide recommendation and implementation policies and strategies pertaining to solid waste management services, as well as promoting participation and awareness among the public.
Conclusion
This study surveys households on the issues pertaining to household waste management in one of the regions in Malaysia. By and large, households are aware that waste management in their region has been privatized even though some of them could name the concessionaire company. Considering that privatization of solid waste is quite new in Malaysia, the awareness is acceptable. What is more important is that the households or society understand their role in managing waste, not by just passing the responsibility to the organization in charge of waste management. Instead, the society should work hand in hand with the government and concessionaires in realizing a sustainable and healthy environment.
Our study shows that households' knowledge and understanding of waste is reasonably good, namely in terms of health consequences and how waste can be of benefit to the society and environment. However, households are ignorant towards the frequency of garbage collection. Knowing the right schedule is very important because it helps the household to plan their disposing of rubbish in the bin. On the other hand, we find that the respondents are putting the blame on the garbage collectors; generally the household agree that not adhering to the collection schedule and irregular rubbish collection are giving them problems. It is not the intention of this study to put the blame on anyone. Both ignorance on the part of the society and irregular waste collection by the service provider can lead to serious consequences, such as overflow of bins, rubbish left uncollected for a long time, and smelly environment, which would subsequently attract flies and other insects and animals. Thus, it is the duty of the concessionaires to ensure that the waste is collected as being scheduled, and of the households not to be ignorant of the schedule. This will thus contribute to a clean and healthy environment. The respondents also agree that that there is a lack of awareness, knowledge and enforcement that causes disorderly waste disposal.
Generally, respondents are moderately satisfied with the attitude of waste collectors during waste collection. Improvements are recommended in terms of safe driving, friendliness, cleanliness of service areas, and proper placing of garbage carts and bins after collection. As far as customer service is concerned, more training should be given to the staffs who handle customer service. It appears that generally, the respondents are not satisfied with customer service.
Waste minimization is one of the issues surveyed in this study. Among the various ways by which waste can be minimized, reusing and recycling have been practiced by about one-third of the respondents. The figure is still not promising; more and continuous programs and campaigns, especially by the government and concessionaires, to educate and discipline the society are very much needed, in addition to providing recycling bins at various strategic locations. The campaigns should be able to instill the feeling of guilt among the society if they do not recycle their household waste. The social media, mass media, schools and colleges, as well as places of worship should act as channels in educating the public about the importance of recycling.
Another method of waste of minimization that can be practiced is composting. Although not many respondents compost their household waste, a majority of the respondents are keen in doing it if demonstrated, and are very supportive of the idea of centralized composting. Again, educating the public on the know-how is an important element of waste minimization. Although this study is conducted in only one of the regions in Malaysia, it may be applicable and generalized to other parts of the country. We believe that the society would benefit most if all parties would be able to work hand in hand both on the technical and behavioral elements. Continuous campaigns, more in-depth knowledge sharing, motivation and training would be among the immediate initiatives required of the concessionaires, the local councils, the state, and the federal government for a cleaner, greener and environmentally safer Malaysia. Besides, enforcement mechanisms should be in place and authorities should enforce whatever rules and regulations that have been implemented.