We can put a man on the moon, but…

We can’t keep our rivers clean?

Today I had an opportunity to visit the interceptors near the river mouth of the Klang River. What an eye-opening experience.

Thanks to the team at The Ocean Cleanup for showing us around, and to our good friend Dr Yatela, Head of Yayasan Sime Darby, for inviting us to join her group.

It is us creating the problem, and it's us that are going to have make the difference.

The Ocean Interceptor

First, let me say that this is an amazing piece of technology.

Essentially it’s a barge anchored in the river. Upstream, booms across most of the width of the river allow boats to navigate the river, while channelling floating trash towards the “mouth” of this hungry beast!!

A conveyor belt picks up trash from the river flowing under the floating structure and deposits it into big skips. The contents of the skips are transferred regularly to the riverbank for disposal.

The interceptors – there are 2 in the Klang River, one sponsored by Coldplay, are efficient and effective…as much as they can be. In reality, operational limitations mean they only gather a small part of the waste that flows by.

The Ocean Interceptor that helps to clear trash from rivers

But it’s a start.

My colleagues will be the first to tell you that I’m no photographer, but if this video doesn't shock you then I'm not sure we are part of the same branch of homo sapiens...

The Trash Filled Ocean

Further downstream – another boom, another pile of trash, mainly plastic, diverted from the river. We saw the riverbanks and mangroves littered with trash, sea birds picking their way through it.

Ask yourself: where does all this come from?

Well, to try to answer that, waste management specialists – and our own research – show that there are 3 main sources: plastic trash can enter the environment from over-flowing trash bins on the street, or it is blown off landfills; there are also systemic problems leading to illegal dumping.

Ok, a bit simplistic, but you get the picture.

But basically, it is down to waste management and a culture that allows this to happen.

Where Does The Trash Come From?

We have to face facts: one way or another, they come from us.

All that plastic – and most of the trash collected by the interceptors is plastic – has at one time been used by us for something – packaging, single use plastics, detergent containers, sweet wrappers…the list is almost endless. And there is one reason, and one reason only, that it ends up in that river: us.

Frankly, seeing this, we should be ashamed of ourselves – Malaysians, human beings…whatever.

The Ocean Trash Problem is Created by Us

Is this what we really want? Is this how we want our rivers to be? And our ocean? And our beaches? Where do you think that plastic in our seafood is coming from?

It’s us!

The interceptors are doing a great job; lots of people are working hard on solutions to this seemingly intractable problem. But at the end of the day, they can only treat the symptoms – trash in rivers.

So, what is the cure?

The Solution to the Ocean Trash Problem is Us

If you ask me, it’s down to us. It is us creating the problem, and it's us that are going to have make the difference.

Used glass bottles are crushed to make sand and also reused to make coral blocks

I listen to what my colleagues tell me about what has happened on Tioman Island since Alam Flora took over the waste management system there. Before that, TDA had been doing a good job – but they didn’t have enough manpower and resources. Alam Flora changed that, and the island has become cleaner.

But it’s still a struggle to stop plastic from being released into the environment – even in a small community. Some of it blows out of full bins…some of it is litter. But they have shown that improvement is possible.

We just need the same, on a bigger scale!

We Need To Manage Our Waste Better

Let’s each take a bit of responsibility for our own actions; try that little bit harder to make sure our plastic waste doesn’t enter the environment.

Separate recyclables at home; find out when they will be collected (I do this at home; bins under the sink for paper, plastic and metal; and it’s collected every Thursday in my housing area) and at least help to make material available for recycling.

And STOP LITTERING!

If you want to throw your trash away…the bin is full...drop at the side? Stuff inside knowing it will fall out?

How about…take it to the next bin??? How difficult is that?

Whether it is at home, at work, in the mall…on the street – let’s try to help the government and local authorities in their efforts to improve waste management.

It is our environment, and ecosystems, that are at risk because of our habits

Again – it’s our habits that are largely the cause of this.

And it is our environment, and ecosystems, that are at risk because of this.

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Author: Chook Jia Wei and Arockia E J Ferdin

Plastic waste mismanagement at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. 📸 credit: Chook Jia Wei

Plastics and us

Plastic is not just around us; it's in our bodies, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Managing plastic waste properly can help reduce its negative impacts on every form of life on Earth. Did you know that each person in Malaysia uses about 16 kilograms of plastic packaging every year? That’s the highest rate in Southeast Asia.

Globally, Malaysia is ranked eighth in plastic waste mismanagement, contributing significantly to marine pollution. Our policies haven’t been strong enough, and our recycling systems need improvement. Practices such as open dumping, littering, and open burning are common due to the government's challenges in managing plastic waste on a large scale.

Plastic pollution pose a serious threat to our health and the health of our environment.

Yet, there's hope, as local NGOs and communities are becoming increasingly aware of the issues associated with plastics.

For example, residential associations in Petaling Jaya and Damansara have taken initiatives into their own hands by setting up recycling stations in their neighbourhoods. They've also organised workshops to repurpose plastics within their community.

plastic waste management and the locals

As a resident of Kuala Lumpur, I’ve witnessed the challenges we face with plastic waste management. I have been practising a zero-waste lifestyle for years and often educate my family and friends about the concept, encouraging them to refuse plastics in the first place. During my master’s studies in Taiwan, I realised that public support is crucial in shaping policies to beat plastic pollution. Policies without understanding community preferences are likely to fail in achieving their intended goals.

Communities play a vital role in plastic waste management in Malaysia. I was motivated to understand which management strategies communities prefer to assist policymakers in managing plastic waste, hoping that it will contribute to Malaysia’s goal of achieving zero single-use plastics by 2030.

Our study explored Kuala Lumpur residents' preferences for plastic waste management. We found that:

83% do not separate waste at home.
78% are not satisfied with the way contractors manage plastic waste.
64% do not agree with the current education system regarding plastic waste management.

The local communities have not been given opportunities and facilities to separate waste at home, which is very similar to other Southeast Asian countries. This indicates that our respondents were clearly not satisfied with the way contractors handle waste in Malaysia. One significant point of dissatisfaction is the effectiveness of education in plastic waste management. This suggests that the exam-oriented Malaysian education system is not prioritising environmental education to empower the next generation.

the study on plastic waste management

We identified one group, likely to be comprised of individuals of Chinese ethnicity, who favoured zero-waste lifestyle workshops, collaborations between residential associations, and involving residential associations and plastic recycling companies for campaign collaboration. They also support banning single-use plastics at academic institutions, religious centres, and governmental agencies. Another group favoured a ban on single-use plastics in local markets and restaurants.

Together, our findings inform local communities’ preferences and public perceptions that assist policymakers in designing effective policies that garner public support. As Malaysia is a multicultural country, identifying these preferences is crucial for targeting communities for effective plastic waste management supported by the local communities.

Plastics are among the highest amount of trash collected during the International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) in Terengganu in 2023.

Arockia E J Ferdin, one of the lead authors of this paper, suggests that local communities, especially the younger generation, need to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle. This approach is key to learning, leading, and educating the elderly and local communities to embrace the zero-waste lifestyle, thereby raising awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution.

Our study provides policy recommendations that include:

Encouraging residential associations to create plastic-free backyards.
Organising workshops about waste separation at the local level.
Making recycling more accessible for the public by providing essential infrastructure.
Designing and promoting waste separation guidelines in English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil languages to reach a broader range of households.
Developing a plastic waste management plan for Kuala Lumpur.

While the urbanisation of Kuala Lumpur provides opportunities for people to move in and work, changes in consumption behaviour and urban lifestyle pose additional challenges for the local government in handling plastic waste. Can the city of Kuala Lumpur overcome these challenges and become a role model for other capital cities in Southeast Asia?

Our study offers comprehensive insights into plastic waste management rooted in locals' preferences that could assist local government authorities and policymakers in effectively designing and implementing plastic waste management strategies. However, we believe every individual plays a crucial role in eliminating plastic pollution from our lives and the environment.

For further reading, please refer to the readable link: https://rdcu.be/ds31t

Article link: Chook, J.W., Ferdin, A.E.J. & Lee, CH. Unmasking Malaysian preferences for effective plastic waste management: a choice experiment approach. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 26, 512–528 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01850-1

For more information, you may contact the authors: Chook Jia Wei (christina.c25@outlook.com) and Arockia E J Ferdin (ferdin90@protonmail.com)

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, opinions or views of Reef Check Malaysia. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

Rivers of Waste: It’s Time We Take Responsibility