The study of municipal solid waste generation at Gong Badak residential area Kuala Terengganu

Abstract

The study was aimed to determine the generation and characteristics of municipal solid wastes generation in Gong Badak residential area. The percentage of wastes generated was food waste (64.5%), plastic waste (20.9%), paper waste (8.5%), glass waste (2.1 %), other type of waste (1.7%) and metal waste (0.9%). This study was significant to determine the reasons that caused the large amount of municipal solid wastes generated in residential area. Recommendations on the effective management of municipal solid wastes can be provided. It was important because landfill in our country not able to accumulate the large amount of municipal solid waste generated from residential area. A survey was carried out in order to determine the generation of municipal solid wastes. The houses were selected randomly in Gong Badak residential area. The results revealed that the lower socioeconomic status of residents, the larger the estimated amount of food wastes generated in residential area. The environmental awareness was found not associated with the generation of municipal solid wastes. Although majority of residents aware of the importance of separation of recyclable wastes and food waste but most residents did not separate them in daily life. Some of the reasons included lack of facilities, too much effort needed to separate the wastes and other reasons. Other reasons included lack of recycling companies and cost to buy the plastic bag to fill the separated wastes.