Waste In Malaysia Research Articles

E-Commerce Packaging Waste in Malaysia – Where Does It All End Up?

This paper aims to explore the factors that influence Malaysian online shoppers’ behaviour in recycling e-commerce packaging waste. This study employed an in-depth semi-structured interview. In total, 12 participants were recruited in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia, including eight females and four males aged between 25 and 50. ATLAS.ti version 8 software was used to analyse the details of the content and interpret it holistically. The study reveals that Malaysian online shoppers still lack awareness of the environmental impact, particularly in recycling e-commerce packaging waste. It also indicates that social influences play a major role in influencing them to recycle e-commerce packaging waste. The paper is a new research area with global implications. While limited to sample size, several recommendations are made, covering recycling facilities, consumer empowerment, and individual responsibility to increase future recycling for better environmental sustainability.

Modelling, analysis and forecasting of photovoltaic waste in Malaysia towards sustainable recycling by 2050

Malaysia is currently pushing for greater solar photovoltaic (PV) penetration through various policies, hence need to assess the consequent PV waste situation in preparation for sustainable End-of-Life (EoL) management of the PV systems. Through incorporation of fixed-loss, early-loss, and regular-loss scenarios into Malaysia's PV roadmap, it is projected that 229,009.17 tons to 481,137.12 tons of PV waste would be generated by 2050. Implementing current achievable PV material recovery rates would result in economic value creation between RM 1.02-2.21 billions (USD 213.78-463.92 millions) and carbon emissions avoidance between 398,858.41 tons CO2-eq to 785,712.93 tons CO2-eq by 2050. With crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology contributing more than 60% of waste share, 2029 to 2039 would be the suitable time period to jumpstart recycling operation due to consistent annual c-Si waste input of 8,000 tons/y for financially sustainable recycling. These findings can help garner support for sustainable EoL management of PV waste in Malaysia.

Agro-Industrial Wastes as Potential Substrates for Rhamnolipid Production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa USM-AR2.

Rhamnolipid has gained much attention in various fields owing to its distinctive functional properties compared to conventional chemical surfactants, which are mostly derived from petroleum feedstock. Production cost is one of the main challenges in rhamnolipid production, particularly when using refined substrates. One possible solution is to use agro-industrial wastes as substrates for rhamnolipid production. This is a promising strategy due to their abundance and commercially low value, while simultaneously alleviating an agro-industrial waste management problem in the environment. This study aims to evaluate agro-industrial wastes from local crops as possible low-cost alternative substrates for rhamnolipid production by a local isolate, Pseudomonas aeruginosa USM-AR2. Various liquid wastes, namely sugarcane molasses, rice washing water, overly mature coconut (OMC) water, empty fruit bunch (EFB) steam effluent, palm sludge oil (PSO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) were screened as the main carbon source supplementing mineral salt medium (MSM) in the fermentation of P. aeruginosa USM-AR2. Batch fermentation was carried out in a shake flask system, agitated at 200 rpm and incubated at room temperature, 27 ± 2°C for 120 h. Among the substrates tested, PSO exhibited the highest biomass at 20.78 g/L and rhamnolipid production at 1.07 g/L. This study has shown the potential of agro-industrial wastes in Malaysia as an alternative resource for rhamnolipid production, transforming them into value added products, while reducing the amount of wastes discharged into the environment.

Change in Sustainable Waste Management Behaviour in Oil Palm Community: Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

The inability to effectively manage waste has evolved into one of the most significant challenges faced in oil palm plantations, and this failure has had an impact on the operations within the plantation. This study examines how attitudes (ATT), subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioural control (PBC) affect both behavioural intention (BI) and sustainable waste management behaviour (SWMB) in the palm oil mills of Sabah, Malaysia. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) serves as the primary theory in this research, which uses a conceptual framework. Distributed questionnaires to the top management of 133 oil palm mills were used to gather the data, and then they were processed using Smart-PLS V4. This research found out that SN and PBC have an influence on individuals’ BI and SWMB adaptations in Sabah’s oil palm mills. The SN was shown to have the strongest association between the SWMB and BI. However, attitudes resulted in no impact on either the intention to engage in sustainable waste management behaviour or on the actions themselves. Ultimately, the findings of this study will give a framework for the governance of palm oil waste in Malaysia by contributing to the development of a legislative and regulatory framework in this area that is more effective.

Operational process stability in pilot dry anaerobic digester of source‐sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste

AbstractThe organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a major portion of solid waste in Malaysia, with 44.5% of the total waste being food waste‐derived sources. This study investigates the performance of dry anaerobic digester (DAD) operation using the pilot dry anaerobic digester (PDAD), a plug flow reactor, in treating source‐sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste (SS‐OFMSW) for biogas production. A commercial Malaysian food waste (CMFW) sample has been used to represent SS‐OFMSW. The anaerobic digestion was performed in a semi‐continuous operation using a 15 m3 PDAD with organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from .63 to 5.46 kg volatile solid (VS)/m3·day under mesophilic conditions. The maximum methane composition was achieved at 56.0% at OLR 5.17 kg VS/m3·day with specific methane production (SMP) of .57 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and gas production rate (GPR) 5.27 m3·gas/m3·digester·day. As indicated by a pH and alkalinity ratio, the PDAD system was stable ranging from pH 6.7 to 8.3, alkalinity ratio of .3 with an inclination of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) up to 1056 mg/L. The SMP achieved is between 1.58 and .4 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and potentially to fuelled 475 MW commercial biogas plant fed by CMFW. The DAD deployment strengthened the circular economy and decarbonization initiatives.

Current energy recycling technology for agricultural waste in Malaysia

This article examines the production and use of biomass as a renewable energy source in Malaysia, focusing on the agricultural processing industry. Malaysia produces approximately 168 million tonnes of biomass, including palm oil waste, rice husks, coconut debris, sugar cane waste, urban waste, and forestry waste. The abundance of biomass resources provides a competitive advantage over other renewable energy sources. However, the industry faces restrictions and challenges, such as high disposal costs, high electricity consumption, and related expenses. To address these issues, it is crucial to study the types of biomass available, current technology for biomass energy production (waste-to-energy), and relevant environmental motivations, initiatives, and legislation. This paper analyses the agricultural waste available for energy generation, existing technologies for converting waste into energy, and the role of environmental policies in the agricultural processing business. Energy recycling, which involves utilizing agricultural waste to generate electricity and thermal energy, is proposed as a viable solution. Several technologies are explored, including anaerobic digestion, gasification, incineration/combustion, and pyrolysis, each with advantages and disadvantages. Thermochemical processes are highlighted for their effectiveness, requiring minimal pre-treatment, shorter reaction times, and adaptability to various biomass feedstocks and climatic conditions. The implementation of incentives, initiatives, and policies by the Malaysian government serves as guidelines for the agricultural processing industry to adopt energy recycling practices. By emphasising energy sustainability and promoting green building initiatives, the industry can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy landscape.

Determinants of Consumer Food Waste Behaviour in Malaysia Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Food waste is a critical issue affecting environmental sustainability and food security globally. This study aims to investigate the determinants of consumer food waste behaviour among households in Malaysia, adopting the Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour as the conceptual framework. A quantitative approach was adopted, with data collected from a survey of 300 Malaysian households. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the survey data, which measured constructs such as attitudes towards food waste, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and food related routines. Results indicate that perceived behavioural control, shopping routines, and the reuse of leftovers are significant predictors of food waste behaviour in Malaysian households. Planning routines contribute indirectly to reducing food waste. Sociodemographic variables, including household size, income, and age, were found to have significant correlations with food waste behaviour. These findings offer valuable insights for designing targeted interventions to reduce food waste in Malaysia by enhancing household capabilities and routines related to food management. The study highlights the importance of understanding local consumer behaviour to effectively address food waste and support global sustainability efforts.

Factors affecting the adoption of Sustainable Waste Management Behavior measures in Palm Oil Plantation in Sabah, Malaysia

Purpose: This study will examine how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC) affect sustainable waste management behaviour (SWMB) in Sabah, Malaysia's palm oil mills. Theoretical framework: This study has adopted the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) that serves as the primary theory in this research, which utilized a conceptual framework. Design/ methodology/approach: This study employed a probability sampling where a series of questionnaires has been distributed to members of the upper management of 133 oil palm mills in Sabah were used to gather the data, which was then processed using Smart-PLS V4. Findings: According to the findings of this research, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control are important factors that contribute to SWMB adaptation in oil palm mills. The most significant association was found to be between subjective norms and SWMB. On the other hand, attitudes have been reported to have no substantial influence on environmentally responsible waste management behaviours. Research, Practical & Social Implications: To put it more succinctly, this study will give a framework for the regulation of palm oil waste in Malaysia through the establishment of a more effective legal and regulatory environment in this area.

Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by novel halophilic bacteria from mangrove ecosystem

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is identified as the primary constituent (approximately 18.9%) in plastic waste pollution. Crystalline structure, high molecular weight, and hydrophobic nature make LDPE recalcitrant to degradation. In the current study, the biodegradation of LDPE was studied by using three novel Malaysian mangrove bacterial isolates Brevundimonas naejangsanensis (strain MGS1), Arthrobacter crystallopoietes (strain SW4), and Arthrobacter pokkalii (strain PD2). Biodegradation of UV-treated LDPE was determined by the gradual increase in microbial count and production of laccase and lipase enzymes over a period of thirty days. All the isolates reduced the weight of the residual polymer and modified the chemical structure of LDPE by forming carbonyl and hydroxyl groups as a result of oxidation reactions by enzymes. Strain MGS1 reduced the maximum weight by 4.64 ± 0.5% and produced maximum laccase (2.19 ± 0.15 U/mL) and lipase enzyme (1.35 ± 0.05 U/mL). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed visual images of bacterial colonization, and surface erosion (cracks/holes) on the LDPE surface. The production of enzymes reduced the hydrophobicity of the LDPE as evidenced by the biofilm formation, addition of new functional groups, surface erosion, and weight loss. The study is significant in addressing the biodegradation of plastic waste in Malaysia by exploring the mangrove microbiome.

Recycling End-of-Life Photovoltaic Modules in Malaysia: Challenges and Potential Solutions

As evidenced from recent policies encouraging renewable energy (RE) penetration in Malaysia, it is envisioned that solar photovoltaic (PV) in the country will receive a significant boost in growth as well. The proliferation of solar PV systems is viewed as a great leap in assisting the decarbonization of our energy generation systems, yet concerns have been raised on the sustainable management of the emerging waste PV modules. Currently, the common treatment methods for the majority of end-of-life (EoL) PV modules in many countries including Malaysia, are landfill disposal or bulk recycling in pre-existing recycling facilities. Even though these methods are simpler in operation due to minimal efforts required to sustainably manage these EoL modules, there is a high probability for environmental issues to occur including leakage of toxic materials and loss of valuable resources. As a result, high-value closed-loop recycling has been proposed to remediate these detrimental effects, but its execution could introduce challenges in Malaysia which this paper attempts to examine upon. Consequently, recommendations to alleviate the challenges faced are proposed, along with potential trade-offs that may arise from the solutions suggested. In essence, research and development (R&D), support from the authorities, as well as cooperation between governmental and private organisations, are necessary in establishing a sustainable and holistic framework for managing PV waste in Malaysia.

EVALUATION OF CARBON EMISSION IN MOTORCYCLE EXHAUSTS AND ENGINE PERFORMANCE USING BIOMASS NANOFUEL PATCH

Biomass nanofluid not only utilises the most abundant waste in Malaysia but also ensures the environment’s sustainability towards low carbon emissions by reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHG). The present work investigates a renewable biomass NanoFuel Patch derived from normal pyrolysis of Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) biomass as a pure product (EFB nano oil). The EFB nano oil will go through the patching process to become a biomass nanofuel patch. This NanoFuel Patch is attached to the motorcycle’s fuel hose and tank. It works based on the nanofluidics concept, allowing the nanomolecules to be transported via biomass fluid bound with nanocomposite fibre medium assembled in a patch adhesive. Nanofluidics minimise the adsorption of impurities, which leads to complete combustion in the engine. The engine performance and emissions of a renewable biomass nanofuel patch were investigated during a motorcycle test attached to the dynomite roller chassis dynamometer (dyno test) in the steady-state condition of a single-cylinder and four-stroke type motorcycle. The findings show that the NanoFuel Patch produced better torque and braking power compared to the standard condition. At speeds between 60 and 70 km/h, the motorcycle’s NOx emissions were lowered to 20.56% and 7.90%, respectively, in contrast to the standard condition. Compared to standard conditions, CO emission levels were lower at 80 km/h, 90 km/h, and 100 km/h, with reductions of 22.08%, 11.65%, and 35.09%, respectively. For CO2 concentration, lower production of CO2 occurred when the motorcycle ran at speeds of 60, 70 km/h, 80 km/h, 90 km/h, and 100 km/h, with percentages of 8.87%, 8.34%, 3.59%, 2.91%, and 0.78%, respectively.

What a waste? An experience in a secondary school in Malaysia of a food waste management system (FWMS)

Food waste (FW) is not just a problem and challenge in Malaysia but world wide. According to a United Nation Environment Program report, approximately 931 million tonnes of food waste was produced globally in 2019. This included 61% from households, 26% from food services and the remaining 13%, from retail. The sheer magnitude of this wastage is very troubling; especially in the fact that there is no firm hope that the scale of the wastage will decrease in the near future. Most studies into food wastage have investigated the broader field of food industries such as food manufacturers, restaurants, food courts and others. This study, however, aimed to investigate FW among end-users who are students in a school, with data being collected from the school canteen. It investigated the amount of food waste before and after awareness of food waste in Malaysia was raised, and how the waste can be converted into cash. The study had four phases: 1) an awareness program for school students, 2) installation of the FW machine, 3) collection of food waste, and finally 4) data analysis. The food waste was collected, transformed into bio-fertilisers and sold to the parents. A total of 339.5 kg of food waste was collected in 38 days and this waste was transformed into 131.5 kg of bio-fertilisers for sale to parents in the same school. This simple FW conversion to bio-fertilisers undertaken in the school as a pilot project shed some light on the potential of the project to be carried out on a larger scale and with commercial interests for all schools in Malaysia. The school generated RM 1315 from the sale of the bio-fertilisers. The potential profits achievable from this conversion of FW to bio-fertilisers will be significant if the pilot study is expanded throughout Malaysia.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECSS): Life cycle environmental and economic assessment of electricity generated from palm oil wastes

Rapid deployment of negative emissions technologies (NETs) will be needed to help mitigate climate change. Among various NETs, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is seen as an option with multiple environmental benefits, including increasing the share of renewable energy while capturing carbon and providing an effective solution for waste management if waste biomass is utilised. This research presents the first environmental and economic sustainability assessments of BECCS utilising palm oil waste abundant in palm oil producing countries, such as Malaysia. The following five types of waste are considered: fronds, trunks, empty fruit bunches (EFBs), shells and fibres. Process simulation, techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) are combined to determine the life cycle impacts and costs of BECCS from cradle to grave. Two units of analysis are considered for both the impacts and costs: ‘generation of 1 MWh of electricity’ and ‘capture of 1 tonne of CO2’. The global warming potential (GWP) is net-negative for both functional units, ranging from −1270 to −1410 kg CO2 eq./MWh and −840 to −1729 kg CO2 eq./t CO2 removed, the latter depending on the credits for electricity generation. However, all other 17 impacts increase by 13–217% with the addition of CCS. The systems without CCS have net-positive GWP of 59–126 kg CO2 eq./MWh. Per MWh electricity, the system with fibres has the lowest and palm fronds the highest impacts for most of the categories considered; per tonne of CO2 removed, there is no clear feedstock preference. The levelised costs of electricity (LCOE) of BECSS plants are US$98–119/MWh, with fibres being the best and fronds the worst feedstock. Compared to the systems without CCS, the LCOE of BECCS are 3.6–4.1 times higher. The costs of BECSS per tonne of CO2 removed are US$66–74, with CCS contributing US$50–53/t CO2. Based on the current availability of palm oil wastes in Malaysia, the system could generate 7730 GWh/yr, boosting the national share of bioenergy by 7.6 times, while removing 12 Mt CO2/yr, equivalent to 10% of annual emissions from the electricity sector.

A Green Approach of Utilising Banana Peel (Musa paradisiaca) as Adsorbent Precursor for an Anionic Dye Removal: Kinetic, Isotherm and Thermodynamics Analysis

Methods for removing pollutants include membrane isolation, ion exchange, precipitation, transformation, and biosorption. Adsorption is a cost-effective method of treating industrial wastewater and a common commercial method for concentrating valuable molecules or eliminating contaminants. Banana peel is one of the largest underutilized agricultural wastes in Malaysia. A novel method of using a low-cost biosorbent made from banana peel and Evans blue (EB) dye as a target is the target of this study. The optimal conditions for EB dye adsorption occurred at a dye concentration of 200 mg/L, adsorbent dosages between 10 and 20 g/L, temperature of 25 °C, incubation time of 180 min, and agitation speeds of 100 rpm. Statistical discriminatory analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Redlich–Petersen isotherm model were the best models. The maximum adsorption capacity based on Langmuir’s isotherm prediction was 58.51 mg g−1. A non–linear regression of the thermodynamic van’t Hoff plot based on a dimensionless equilibrium constant resulted in negative values for Gibb’s free energy and enthalpy, indicating that the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic.

Valorisation of chicken eggshell as a novel food ingredient in madeleine cake: an exploratory study amongst young adults

PurposeThe circularity of food waste is gathering considerable pace globally. The present study aimed to explore the awareness, attitude and behaviour of Malaysian young adults towards food waste as a food ingredient. The physicochemical characteristics and sensory acceptance of chicken eggshell powder (CESP)-fortified madeleine cake were also investigated.Design/methodology/approachA survey on awareness, attitude and behaviour was conducted online amongst young adults (n = 384) in the Klang Valley region. The control and fortified madeleine cakes were subjected to nutritional constituent analyses according to the methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) for moisture, protein, ash and calcium. Fat was determined via Soxhlet method whilst carbohydrate was estimated by difference. Physical analyses such as texture and water activity were assessed using instrumental techniques. Sensory acceptance test was conducted amongst another group of young adults (n = 105) using a nine-point hedonic scale.FindingsThe survey revealed that most young adults demonstrated a positive attitude and behaviour in trying food products made using food waste. Taste and texture were deemed important determinants that influenced the young adults' acceptability. Texture profiles of fortified madeleine cakes exhibited no significant differences (p > 0.05) in most attributes compared to the control whilst significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for fat, carbohydrate, ash and calcium contents with increasing CESP fortification levels.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey on awareness, attitude and behaviour was conducted amongst young adults from universities in the Klang Valley, Selangor region Malaysia through self-reports about food waste and the findings might not be applicable to the whole nation.Practical implicationsKnowledge of young adults' perceptions towards waste-to-value food products can contribute to the development of pragmatic framework for effective valorisation of food wastes, which aligns with United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the targets and indicators for agriculture and food security.Social implicationsSustainable management of food waste will minimise the impact of the industry on our environment and contributes to a circular economy. Further, increased awareness of the food waste's potential as a novel food ingredient allows a positive shift in its role to achieve food sustainability.Originality/valueThis innovative study incorporates the element of exploratory research to gain an understanding of young adults' perceptions towards repurposing food waste. This is followed by the practical application of food waste (i.e. CESP) into the end application (i.e. madeleine cake) to gain a holistic view of young adults’ perceptions aligning with the actual acceptance. The results obtained from this study can be considered as a first perspective that provides indications of the plausibility of food products made from food waste in Malaysia.

Isolation of Proteolytic Enzyme from Pineapple Crown

The pineapple waste from the pineapple industry has contributed to an increase in waste in Malaysia and worldwide every year. A major type of endopeptidase enzymes found in pineapple is fruit bromelain, stem bromelain, ananain, and comasain. This study aims to extract and purify protease from the crown of MD2 pineapple. Protease was extracted and purified using anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and desalting before being identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Proteolytic activity was determined using the well diffusion method and Casein Digestion Unit. In the present study, the proteolytic assay showed that 1 kg crown of MD2 cultivar produced an activity of 126.0 ± 3.86 U/ml, a specific activity of 3937.50 U/mg. In the present study, the proteolytic assay showed that 1 kg crown of MD2 cultivar produced an activity of 126.0 ± 3.86 U/mL, a specific activity of 3937.50 U/mg and the total activity of 3.94 × 109 U. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was in the range of 25 to 35 kDa under the optimum condition of pH 7 and 37°C. Purification of the extract yielded a band at the molecular weight of 20–25 kDa at the optimum pH of 3 and 9 at 60°C. From LC-MS analysis, the purified enzyme from the crown extract was similar to ananain under accession number A0A199VSS3 (according to Uniprot). It had five unique peptides and covered 97/356 amino acids (44.9% coverage). The ananain (EC 3.4.22.31) is classified in the subfamilies of cysteine protease C1A (clan CA, family C1), a peptidase family related to papain. In conclusion, protease was extracted and identified as an ananain-like protease from the crown.

Pyrolysis kinetic study of the thermal degradation of pre-treated empty fruit bunches

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) wastes are a significant source of biomass waste in Malaysia and have the potential to be a high-quality source of energy. This study aims to evaluate the kinetic of EFB biochar degradation and its characteristics under three conditions of washing pre-treatments. Prior to biochar production via slow pyrolysis process, stirring and soaking techniques were utilised as part of the pre-treatment for the washing process, with varying solid-to-liquid (S:L) ratios of 1:50, and 1:50 to 1:70, respectively. The study analysed the higher heating value (HHV), pyrolysis yield and kinetic activation energy of the biochar. The morphology and elemental composition of the biochar samples were determined using ultra-high resolution scanning electron microscopy (UHR-SEM) and energy dispersive X-Ray detector (EDX). The Coats-Redfern model was used to estimate the activation energies of the EFB biochar from thermogravimetric (TGA) data in a temperature range of 30 °C to 800 °C and a constant heating rate of 10 °C/min under a nitrogen atmosphere. The results showed that washing pre-treatment significantly changed the morphology and elemental compositions of the EFB biochar samples. The higher S:L ratio of 1:70 has a more significant impact on the breakdown of the lignocellulosic structure of EFB. The soaked samples had slightly lower biochar and bio-oil yields (22.73 mf wt. % to 24.86 mf wt. % and 27.97 mf wt. % to 39.39 mf wt. %, respectively) than the stirred samples (25.22 mf wt. % and 49.59 mf wt. %). The pre-treatment process improved the carbon content while reducing potassium by 60.7 to 81.39%. The HHVs of EFB-4 (28.24 MJ/kg) and EFB-3 (26.57 MJ/kg) were higher than those of EFB-2 (26.2 MJ/kg) and EFB-1 (23.14 MJ/kg), indicating an improvement in their fuel properties. The higher kinetic activation energies of EFB-4 (43.27 to 48.30 MJ/mol) indicate better thermal stability than the others. Therefore, concerning improved fuel properties, the recommended pre-treatment of EFB for the pyrolysis process is soaking at 90 °C with an S:L ratio of 1:70. The kinetic analysis revealed that the pyrolysis of pre-treated EFBs follows a multi-step reaction mechanism, with different activation energies for each stage. The obtained kinetic parameters can be used to optimize the pyrolysis process and design efficient pyrolysis reactors for the valorization of EFBs. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the thermal behavior of pre-treated EFBs and their potential for bioenergy production.

Plastic waste knowledge of households towards a sustainable environment

Plastic waste in Malaysia has become a serious problem since it affects not only the environment but wildlife animals and marine life too. These may cause by irresponsible people in dealing with their plastic waste management. Therefore, this study is conducted mainly to analyse the knowledge, attitude, awareness, and behaviours of households in Pasir Gudang towards plastic waste management in separating plastic waste before its disposal. A questionnaire was distributed among households who live in this area. The Binary Logistic Regression is used to analyse the knowledge, attitude, awareness, and behaviour of households towards plastic waste management. The results show that only the behaviours of households affect the plastic waste management in their households (p-value=0.04). The Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicates the model has a good fit for the data (p-value=0.480). Other than that, the Omnibus test (p-value=0.03) shows predictors have significant effects and gave improvement to the model. The Classification Table shows the accuracy of 67.4% of the households who separated plastic waste before its disposal. It is suggested to improve the result by adding more respondents to provide insight information on the independent variables, analyse further using other approach such as decision tree and parallelly acknowledge others on the importance of recycling plastic waste.

Model predicting social acceptance behavior to implement ELV policy: Exploring the role of knowledge toward ELV policy on social acceptance in Malaysia.

Effective management of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) represents a sound strategy to mitigate global climate change. ELVs are contaminants that pollute water, air, soil, and landscape. This waste flow must be adequately treated, but no proper rule oversees the disposal of ELV waste in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the extent of implementing the ELV policy and the social readiness in implementing environmentally friendly ELV disposal in Malaysia. The questionnaire seeks public input on critical ELV concerns such as public perception of the phenomena, environmental and safety standards, and recycling and treatment facilities. This research uses a cross-sectional design with 448 respondents in the survey. Fit models in structural equation modeling are evaluated using a variety of goodness-of-fit indicators to ensure an actual hypothesis. This study's advantages include the availability of representative samples and allowing for comparable and generalizable conclusions to larger communities throughout Malaysia. It is found that personal experience is significantly correlated with social readiness. The cause of ELV vehicles knowledge was the vital mediator, along with recycling costs knowledge. Thus, knowledge regarding ELV management costs is the most decisive mediation variable to predict public acceptance. The recommended strategy to reduce resentment and rejection of ELV policy is to disseminate information about the negative ELV impact on environmental and social sustainability.

Morphological, mechanical, and color strength properties of infrared dyed pineapple leaf fibers

The enormous number of pineapple plantations in Malaysia are dominated by small to large agronomists governed by the Malaysian Pineapple Industrial Board, which addresses almost all pineapple industry-related issues. In Malaysia, more than 147,000 hectares of land are utilized for pineapple plantations, which create 65 tons of residue per hectare. Consequently, the waste production comes from the long leaves of the harvested mother plants of pineapples that are cut off to allow the young sucker to grow freely, which then can be found abundantly. However, the handling practice for pineapple leaf waste in Malaysia is still poorly managed. Realizing the importance of this issue, as an alternative to reduce waste, fibers from pineapple leaves were extracted and dyed to improve the aesthetic value and marketability of pineapple leaf fiber by adding dyeing substrates using a low energy consumption dyeing approach. Two different techniques of dyeing were used to investigate the morphological, mechanical, color strength, and colorfastness properties of dyed pineapple leaf fibers. The dyeing of pineapple leaf fibers was investigated using C.I. reactive blue 5, C.I reactive red 11, and C.I Reactive yellow 86 at different concentrations. As a result, the characterization of dyed pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) showed that the dyeing process modified the original structure of PALF but no significant differences were observed on dyed PALF in the comparison of each dyeing technique. In addition, under optimized conditions of two dyeing techniques dyed PALF presented lower breaking strength, whereas comparable breaking strength value was gained with each technique. Fibers of both dyeing techniques displayed interesting color findings with excellent colorfastness to washing, lightfastness, and good colorfastness to perspiration. The infrared dyeing method resulted in similar and better dyeing behavior compared to exhaustion dyeing techniques. This method could further be refined by considering the production of textile materials, which can provide alternative to the usage of highly expensive silk fibers in the songket making industry.