Awareness on Plastic Bottle Waste Management Amongst Vocational College Students in Malaysia

Abstract

The management of solid waste, particularly plastic bottle waste, is becoming increasingly important. The carelessness with which solid waste is managed will have a negative impact on human life. A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of vocational college students in addressing the problem of discarded plastic bottles. The study was conducted online, with vocational students in Malaysia receiving a link containing animation videos and open-ended questions. The students are then asked for their thoughts on how to solve the problem presented in the video. This study enlisted the participation of 197 vocational college students. The students’ feedback was analyzed using thematic coding analysis in Atlas.ti version 22. According to the findings, this study can be divided into two categories which are initiatives to address the issue of plastic bottle waste dumping and the importance of good plastic bottle waste management and planning. Students’ perspectives on problem-solving initiatives were categorized into seven categories: reuse, awareness, recycling, reducing use, disposal, waste segregation, and enforcement. Furthermore, environmental concerns and health issues are two categories that emphasize the significance of proper plastic bottle waste management. In general, vocational college students are aware of the actions needed to address the real issue of plastic bottle waste. Students are also capable of proposing solutions that are appropriate and in line with government efforts such as the 3R, 5R, and waste segregation at source. Furthermore, students can connect the importance of solid waste management to environmental stewardship and public health.