Awareness on solid waste management among secondary school students in Sungai Petani, Kedah / Nurul Hazimah Hanim Mohd Zubir

Solid waste management is not a new thing. It has been introduced and practiced worldwide by many parties: individuals, schools, universities, offices, and more. In Malaysia itself, solid waste management has been introduced since the early 1990s. However, despite its long existence in this country, the level of awareness among Malaysian when it comes to solid waste management is still considerably low. Many people are still not practicing the basic 3R: Recycle, Reduce and Reuse. Statistic shows that only 17.39% in Malaysia practice the sustainable solid waste management. This study tries to evaluate the awareness level on solid waste management among secondary school students. Using three schools which are SMK Ibrahim, SMK Khir Johari, and SMK Bandar Sungai Petani as the case study, the method applied for conducting this research is based on observation and questionnaire survey. The questionnaire survey was distributed using google form platform due to Covid 19 pandemic that occurs in the middle of this research. Findings from the survey are students in secondary school had less awareness about this solid waste management. From the point of view of secondary school students, they do know basic about solid waste management, but they just take solid waste management as a simple thing and not practicing it. The importance of recycling has been forgot and less aware by the students that result in many consequences and damage to the world. By implementing the recommendations proposed, it is hopeful that the awareness level will increase and ultimately achieve a sustainable and healthy environment.