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

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.