TECHNOLOGY IN WASTE MANAGEMENT: AWARENESS ON WASTE

SEPARATION IN TAMAN JATI, ALOR GAJAH, MALACCA

S.I.Ismail, N.A.H.Razali, M.F.Abdullah, M.H.Kamarudin, M.H.A.Rais, M.R.M.Salleh

Section of Process, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, Lot 1988
Vendor City, Taboh Naning, 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka

*Corresponding author: nuraihazali@gmail.com,

Abstract
Waste management is one of the ways that is used to preserving the environment directly and human life
indirectly. Waste management is all the activities and actions that are used to manage waste from its initial until
its final disposal. It is including the activities of throwing, collecting, transporting, segregating, and treatment
and eliminating also educating on recycling. The waste management system enclosed in all area, residential
waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste and also social. However, the essential of proper waste management
are not being well known by the society. The difficulties in carried out the activities make the technologist urged
to find ways to make it simple and practicable. Hence, a research was carried out to study the awareness and
convenience of proper waste management to the society. The method used was by surveying 53 residences
Taman Jati, Alor Gajah, Malacca. This paper reports on the qualitative of the society on the awareness of the
proper management that was carried out by the authorities and how does it has affected them. Based on the
result of the research, in overall, 87% of the residents are aware on the proper waste management system while
another 13% are not sure and not aware at all. This proved that, the government need to take a serious action in
bring out more awareness campaign and spread more knowledge to the society.
Keyword: Waste Management, Society Awareness, Technologist, Waste Management Difficulties

Introduction
Solid waste management can be defined as a discipline associated with the control of generation, storage,
collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal of solid wastes [1]. The primary goals of sustainable
waste management are to protect human health and the environment and to conserve resources [2]. Additional
goals include prevention of the export of waste related problems into the future (e.g. clean cycles and landfills
requiring little after care[3] and socially acceptable waste management practices[4].
Increasing population levels, booming economy, rapid urbanization and the rise in community living standards
have greatly accelerated the municipal solid waste generation rate in developing countries [5]. According to Zia &
Devadas, the waste generated are from sources like domestic, industrial and commercial and it shows an
increasing trend throughout the world. Due to this reason, solid waste management plays an important role in
maintaining a sustainable environment.
Malaysia, like most of the developing countries, is facing an increase of the generation of waste and of
accompanying problems with the disposal of this waste [7]. Overall, the local communities generate 16,000 tons
of domestic waste per day and the amounts per capita vary from 0.45 to 1.44 kg per day depending on the
economic status of the areas concerned. On average, waste generation is about 1 kg per capita per day [. In
addition, construction waste is part of the waste generated and categorized under solid waste [8]. It is supported
where Malaysia construction waste forms a significant portion of wastes that is finally disposed in landfills [9].
Based from Argykum et al. [10], construction waste materials can be defined as the comprising of unwanted
materials generated during construction. Furthermore, pollution caused by construction waste has caused
negative impacts towards the environment and leads to economic lose [11]. Therefore, to reduce the total amount
of wastes generated, an optimal waste management system should be adopted in order to achieve
sustainability[8].
The paper focuses on the awareness of the residents on the proper waste management. It also highlights on the

satisfaction and comfortability of the residents of Taman Jati which involves in the enforcement of waste
separation in their waste disposal. This research is based on in the practice of the domestic waste management.
The responses were by answering in survey forms with the randomly selected residents of Taman Jati. The
survey information was tabulated and results are presented in charts representing the categories of the surveys
question. The positive outcomes of the waste separation activities will encourage the government to continue on
proper waste management program. Furthermore, the numbers of awareness and people who actually done it
shall be increase from time to time. This will eventually help in reducing the number of landfills in Malaysia.
Methodology
Basically, the paper is focusing on the awareness of the Taman Jati residents on the waste separation in their
waste management activities. The method use in this research is mainly based on survey. The survey was done
in Taman Jati Residence area. Samples of 53 residences are chosen randomly and were given out a survey form.
The sets of question are combining in 3 categories. The first category is focused on general question which was
asked on the house content and house chores. The second category was asked on the awareness of the proper
ways of waste management that has been carried out by authorities in the Taman Jati recently. The third category
is involving the conveniences and willingness to continue on the activities. The total numbers of the survey
question are 9 questions and consist of multiple choice and linked skill questions. The result from the survey are
simplified into categories are tabulated and represented in chart based on percentage obtained from the
questionnaire answers.
Results and Discussion
Tchobanoglus has defined waste management as a discipline associated with the control of generation, storage,
collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal of solid wastes [1]. According to Allesch and Brunner,
the primary goals of sustainable waste management are to protect human health and the environment and to
conserve resources[2]. Brunner also added that the additional goals include the prevention of the export of waste
related problems into the future and socially acceptable waste management practices [4]. In Malaysia, the local
communities generate 16, 000 tons of domestic waste per day and the amounts per capita vary from 0.45 to 1.44
kg per day depending to the economic status of the area concerned. In Malacca itself, has reported that the waste
generated by the society is 250kg per year and only 2% were being recycled. While the balance, is buried in the
landfill or dumped illegally.
Therefore, this matter has leads to this survey to and Taman Jati in Alor Gajah Malacca was selected as the
representative. This area will be focus on 4 types of observation such as types of houses, individual occupation,
house chores routine and the house content. The samples are selected randomly at 53 residents and have been
passed out sets of survey questions consist of three categories. The first category is the general question. In this
category, the questions are based on the respondents background which is their occupation, the house content
and house chores. The result is representing as in Table 1.
Table 1: Respondents Background
Category
House Member
Family
68%

Non Family
32%

Housewife
47%

Normal Worker
23%

Student
21%

Done by own
25%

Done by partner
43%

Done in turn
32%

2 people
6%

3 to 5 people
66%

More than 6
people
28%

Occupation

House Chores
Routine
House content

Business
9%

Not Done (19%)

Done (81%)

Figure 1: Data on Residence that carried out proper waste management

The second category focuses on the group that has been adapt to proper waste management. In term of proper
waste management, observation been made from two observations which are duration of waste was dispose in a
house and management of waste in a house. Statically as shown in figure 1, the overall survey in the second
category, it brings out that 81% of the Taman Jati residents have done a proper waste management. They have
managed to separate their domestic waste according to the recyclable waste and non-recyclable. While another
19% did not achieve the target. This are also covered up on how many times did they are able to dispose their
waste. Apparently, most of the residents have the practices the separation of waste daily and at most once in two
days. According to data collected, out of 81% respondents that has done a proper waste management, it turn out
to be 68% are done by housewife and another 32% done by the students. The numbers are related to the ways
and type of daily consuming by the residents. The practice of this waste separation in the family indirectly will
educate the youngsters in their ways of handling the domestic waste. Furthermore, this shows that the awareness
has reached out to the residents of Taman Jati. They also said that they have been alert by the SWM campaign of
separating the waste. A pamphlet of waste management on the separation of waste activities and waste collection
schedule has been spread out earlier. In addition, the waste collections are collected twice a week and only
collected separate waste. In addition to the effort, the Malaysia government National plan of the Eleventh
Malaysia Plan (2016-2020), will give out a positive increment to the awareness on managing the waste properly
by the society.

Not Sure (2%)

Not Aware (11%)

Aware (87%)

Figure 2: Data of the awareness on proper waste management to the residences

Figure 2 represents the data for the third category which is the measuring of the awareness on proper waste
management to the Taman Jati residents. It based on three observations which is, the participant satisfaction of
new waste management system, the requirement of separation of waste in society and suitability of the system to
be continued. Based on the survey, 87% from the overall have managed to understand and even agreed to the

continuity of the program. They believe that, it will make it is important to do so in order to keep the
environment clean. In addition the most popular statement given that proper waste management can help in
reducing pollution. Therefore to reduce the total amount of waste generated, an optimal waste management
system should be adapted in order to achieve sustainability (Tey et al., 2012). On the other hand, another 13%
has come up with not aware to this matter. This is the reason for the revision of Solid Waste and Public
Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672). It is the reinforcing coordination among relevant ministry agencies and also
strengthens the institutional frame work. This was stated in the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016-2020). However,
in term of satisfaction of the new waste management, most of the participant satisfied with the quality services
and period of collect but 12% of the participant does not satisfied with the waste segregation system and overall
of the system. This because each houses were provided with 1 container for an individual which run their own
business will produce more waste than normal worker especially food business. Providing larger container to the
consumer by the government can improved the satisfaction and comfortability of consumer. There is a need for
more subsidiary legislations in Malaysia[12]
Japan can be selected as a role model of waste management for this research to improvise the waste
management in Malaysia. One of the initiatives Japan applied to their people, by creating a service in form
vending machine which provide money as the replacement for the waste placed in the machine The machine is a
form waste collection center but it situated in every residential area compare to collection center which present
number of 2 or 3 in a state surround Malaysia. This method encourage consumer to earn extra income while
managing their waste. Another method used by Japan is the practice of 3R in their waste management system [13].
Japan Recycling method is more efficient than USA [14].
Conclusions
According to the results obtained, it is not impossible for the proper waste management to be carried out in
Malaysia. The words and knowledge of proper waste management has been spread evenly before the waste
separation activities were carried out widely by the SWM Corporation in Taman Jati Residence area. However,
the responsible authorities and non-government bodies should also be hand in hand to create more awareness in
order to increase the awareness among other places as well. Directly to this will affect the environment and save
it all by reduction in landfills. Furthermore, the proper waste management activities that were carried out will
give so many benefits to all time around. Hence, an incentive or tokens should be provided as such to make it
more motivational for the people of the country. Likewise other developed countries that has been able to carry
out the proper waste management such as USA, and Germany. More campaign and knowledge sharing are
welcome to be spread among the society. This includes other ways of handling waste which eventually can also
generate an extra income to the people. As an old saying says that one mans rubbish is another man treasure.
Acknowledgement
The special thanks for our lecturers Dr. Norzahir Sapawi and Mdm Asimi Ana Binti Ahmad for encouraging and
support us from the beginning until it finished. We also would like to give our gratitude to University Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Chemical Engineering and Bio Technology for proving a platform which enable
us to expand and diverse our knowledge in the higher level. Lastly, the gratitude to Majlis Amanah Rakyat for
providing the funding and making this paper a reality.

1.

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