REASONS FOR NON-PARTICIPATION IN RECYCLING OF SOLID WASTE IN NORTHERN MALAYSIA: A CASE STUDY

It is widely accepted that public support is vital to the success of most recycling programmes. The actions of householders are paramount to the success of any sustainable waste management policies whether local, regional or national. This paper presents a study of householders' attitudes to recycling of solid wastes in Malaysia, which supports the idea that careful planning and design are critical for the success of a new recycling programme. A postal questionnaire survey was administered to households in Penang state located in north Malaysia. Quantitative analysis of the 417 responses focused on reasons for non-participation in current recycling schemes. Statistical analysis showed that many householders refrain from recycling because of their negative perceptions of the distance to the recycling points and the lack of recycling facilities in their neighbourhood.