Zero-Waste Campaign: Assessment on University Student’s Behaviour, Awareness, and Impact on Plastic Products

Abstract

Plastic products are cheap and practically easy to use in human daily life. However, the product is well-known for being difficult to decompose and have become a main source of environmental pollution. Hence, it is important to continuously educate the young generation on the importance of environmental pollution and conservation. Therefore, our objective is to assess the behaviours and awareness of students who are using plastic products and the impact of the zero-waste campus campaign in Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB). About 249 respondents were interviewed face to face using designed survey forms, after a year the campaign had been launched. The results indicated that the respondents’ behaviour was still dependent on plastic products. However, their awareness was considered alert enough with 46.79% being aware that the products were difficult to decompose. The imposed levy charge of MYR0.50 (USD0.12) in UPMKB provided a significant impact on reducing plastic usage where 83.94% supported the campaign by bringing their own food containers. The outcomes from this campaign may continuously raise awareness behaviour among future generations to reduce plastics usage and to conserve nature.