Waste Management Behavior of Households in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Abstract

Enhancing demand side management is among the focus of Malaysia in its effort to pursue green growth throughout 2016 to 2020. Per capita waste disposal in the country is 0.3 to 1.2 kg and only a mere 2% is recycled. There is huge potential for reducing solid wastes in the country through a more sustainable waste management approach such as reducing, recycling and proper disposal. This paper explores the result of a quantitative study conducted via a survey questionnaire on 118 households around Klang Valley. Applying the protection motivation theory, an ordinary least squares regression is applied to data to determine the significant factors affecting waste management behavior of households. Several elements of waste management behavior are investigated, such as waste avoidance, green purchases and reuse and recycle behavior. Results of study show that coping and threat appraisal processes significantly affect waste disposal and reuse and recycle behavior. For green purchasing and waste avoidance behavior, they are affected by coping appraisal but not threat appraisal process. The study suggests that if the government can promote the information on how severe contaminated environments can have on humans and their surroundings, it can lead to more responsible disposal of waste as well as can increase reuse and recycling activities of households. Apart from that, highlighting the positive impact an individual person’s action can bring to the environment may increase reuse and recycling, waste avoidance and disposal and green purchase activities of the society, particularly the households.

Protection Motivation and Food Waste Reduction Strategies

“…Response efficacy positively affected food purchase intentions (β = 0.285, p < 0.001); therefore, H7 was supported. This result supports the findings of Yusoff and Asmuni [33]. Self-efficacy positively affected ugly food purchase intentions (β = 0.251, p < 0.001); therefore, H8 was supported.…”

“…Tchetchik et al [32] studied the consumption and recycling reduction behavior due to COVID-19 in Israel by applying PMT. Yusoff and Asmuni [33] studied waste management behavior, focusing on Malaysia.…”

“…According to Chen et al's [36] electronic waste protection study, perceived threat as a threat appraisal positively affected information security protection intention. In terms of waste management behavior, according to Yusoff and Asmuni [33], threat appraisal positively affects waste disposal and reuse behaviors.…”

“…Chen et al [36], in the context of an electronic waste study, reported that self-efficacy as a coping appraisal positively affected information security protection intention. Yusoff and Asmuni [33] indicated that coping appraisal positively affects waste disposal behavior.…”

A Review of Future Household Waste Management for Sustainable Environment in Malaysian Cities

“…The higher density of population potentially leads to higher Municipal waste, where this is important, especially on the citizen, need to be disciplined and understand the consequences of the waste may affect the environment. The government should promote activities that can create awareness among households, i.e., reuse and recycling activities (Yusoff & Asmuni, 2021). One of the ways to reduce plastic packaging is the use of green packaging, which is closely related to sustainable Development Goals 12 -Responsible consumption and production, where the responsibility of managing the waste sustainably holds on the consumer and producer.…”