Investigating Households Attitude Toward Recycling of Solid Waste in Malaysia: A Case Study

Authors

1 School of Housing, Building and Planning, 11800, Minden, University Sains Malaysia

2 Department of Architecture and Building Science, College of Architecure and Planning, Kind Saud University, Riyadh 11574, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

3 School of Civil Engineering, 14300, Nibong Tebal, University Sains Malaysia

4 Centre for Environmental and Earth Science Research Kingston University; Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK

Abstract

This paper investigates householders’ attitudes to the recycling of solid wastes in one part of northern Malaysia, namely Alor Setar town, Kedah State. A postal questionnaire survey was administered to households in Alor Setar town in selected areas of high, middle and low incomes. 389 responses were obtained, a response rate of 86.4%. A personal interview with an official of the Municipal Council of Alor Setar was conducted in order to identify the current situation of solid waste recycling and household participation as well as obtaining views on the recycling campaigns carried out by the Malaysian government in 1993 and 2000. The paper indicates that participation in recycling of household waste relies on the level of awareness and understanding of recycling. Improved education and increasing the accessibility of recycling facilities are the best means of promoting positive attitudes to recycling attitude, partly because they help to remove barriers preventing households from recycling. Households in Alor Setor town have identified some of the effective strategies that can be initiated by the government to increase the rate of recycling in Malaysia which would also encourage them to participate in recycling. One of these strategies was providing recycling bins in every residential area.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 3, Issue 2
April 2009
Pages 275-288

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