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.
