The factors that lead to recycling behaviour among secondary school student / Mas Zaiti Megat Osmira and Ummu Filzah Baharon Azhar

Education is the key to increasing the knowledge and awareness of the general public on environmental issues at early ages. Then, the 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycling) policies have been formulated and applied in the context of waste management and the elements that been focused on and highlighted is recycling. In Malaysia, environmental education was introduced to the school education system in 1986 and recycling program was initiated as early as 1993. Students are taught to appreciate the earth and its natural sources at a young age through various activities. Hence, the objective of this paper was to study the attitude, perceived behavioural control and situational factor of recycling behaviour among secondary school students in Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) serves as the basis theoretical framework in this study. A correlational study was carried out among secondary school student in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Merbok. A number of 311 secondary school students were selected as respondents ranging from 13 to 19 years old using a survey questionnaire. A set of questionnaire was used to obtain the information about socio-demographic, attitude, perceived behavioural control and situational factor of recycling behaviour. The numbers of questionnaire distributed were 311 completed questionnaire then the number of questionnaire returned and usable also 311 questionnaires. For conclude, the data obtained were analysed and these following findings were found out. The relationships of attitude, perceived behavioural control and situational factor towards recycling behaviour that are the variables in this study were further examined. All of the relationship were found to be significant. However, the most influential factors of recycling behaviour is the situational behaviour itself. Thus, the students should be nurtured to increase their behaviour in recycling activities, such as having environmental education at home and in school, joining recycling awareness campaign and recycle activities.