The impact of economic class on solid waste generation pattern in capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

Solid waste management has been recognized as the crucial urban environmental problem in Malaysia. In order to ameliorate waste management, it is essential to know the quantity of waste generated and the elements contributing to the generation of waste. This study was conducted to determine the association between socioeconomic factors and solid waste generation in Kuala Lumpur, to analyse the class of income that contribute the highest contribution of solid waste generation and to propose mitigation plan to local authority in controlling waste production in the study area. In this paper, the socioeconomic factors that lead to waste generation in Kuala Lumpur are presented. A seventeen years (2000-2017) secondary database obtained from the Department of Statistic Malaysia (DOSM), National Solid Waste Management Department (NSWMD) and National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) were statistically analysed by using Chemometric techniques which includes Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR). The study revealed that population, household income, GDP per capita, low cost flat, 2-3 storey terraced, town house, 2-3 storey semi-detached and apartment/condominium were positively strong correlated with solid waste generation. PCA analysis indicated that population, household income, GDP per capita, single storey terraced, 2-3 storey terraced, single storey semi-detached, 2-3 storey semi-detached, town house, low cost flat, and condominium/apartment were the most potential contributors to waste generation. MLR revealed that population, GDP per capita, household income, high income class and middle-income class were the significant factor towards solid waste generation in Kuala Lumpur. This study gives new insight on the part of socioeconomic parameter in influencing the production of solid waste.