Assessment on the reuse and recycling of domestic solid waste in Malaysia

Abstract

The most preferred waste management practices are to prevent or minimize waste. Public participation in domestic waste separation for reuse and recycling is the key to reduce waste disposal or increase the amount of waste diverted from landfill. These practices are influenced by knowledge of the public on the concept of source separation, reuse, and recycle, varieties of recyclable goods and methods of disposal for domestic waste. This paper proposes an assessment to explore the reuse and recycling of domestic solid waste by local residents in Malaysia. The propose assessment will include field experiment at selected housing schemes in Malaysia. The experiment will become a platform to guide and educate the public to manage domestic waste. These hands-on practices will be closely monitored. Three interventions will be conducted to identify their current practices of domestic waste management. The interventions will be “information only”, “information and norms” and “information and monetary incentives”. The record of domestic waste collected by the local authorities, before and after these interventions will be checked and analysed. The findings of the experiment shall indicate the influencing factors for separation at source for domestic waste.