Informal Recycling Activities in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia: Student Perspectives

Abstract

One of the major challenges in solid waste management in Universiti KebanQsaan Malaysia (UKM) is how best to work with informal recyclinQ sector to improve efficiency in recyclinQ. In order to find the best way to inteQrate the informal and formal sectors of recvclina in UKM. UKM needs to document understand and build on existinQ informal collection and recyclinQ systems. However, base-line data on informal recyclinQ activities in U KM are non-existence. The purpose of this paper is to discuss base-line data on informal recycling activities in UKM. Quantitative survey method was employed to collect data on informal recyclinQ activities in UKM. and one hundred students responded to a set of questionnaire. Descriptive mean and standard deviation were obtained. Reliability and validity were tested to approve thF'l ll::lri::!hiF'l~ II~F'lrl ThF'l rF'l~lllt~ nf thi~ r::lrF'lr inrlir.::ltF'lrl th::lt ::lr.r.nrrlina tn ~turlF'ln~ . thF'l informal recyclers in UKM were amonQst the cleaninQ service workers with a mean score of 3.18 compared to other cateQories of informal recyclers such as residential colleQe staffs (2.34), students (2.28), support staffs (2.15), cafeteria staffs (2.11). academic staffs (2.04) and administrative staffs (2.03). Students clarified that informal waste recycling collectors and collecting waste recycling parties were itinerant waste buyers with the mean scores of 2.93 and 2.59, respectively. Students also identified recyclinQ micro and small enterprise (MSEs) as the main tradinQ party (2.96) compared to other parties. Materials collected by the informal recyclers in UKM were mostlv papers (3.37). Of all recvclables. paper was accumulated the most with a range of volume between 5 to 9 kilograms per day. In addition, paper also Qain the hiQhest in profit obtained which is from RM 11 to RM 19 per day. The findinQs of this study form a basis of understanding on unackno\Niedged recycling activities by informal recyclers in UKM.