By Olivia Miwil
SEMPORNA: A structured, community-based waste management system is beginning to transform long-standing marine pollution practices in a coastal village here.
The initiative, under the Semporna Waste Management Programme led by Reef Check Malaysia with support from Etika Sdn Bhd and local authorities, was introduced following a door-to-door audit at Kampung Sri Aman water village here, which exposed critical gaps in waste handling.
Covering 80 households and approximately 656 residents, the study revealed that the village generated an estimated 230.31kg of waste per day.
"Critically, 95 per cent of households did not have access to proper waste bins, and the majority of waste was disposed of directly into the sea.
"These findings highlighted a systemic issue: waste pollution in the village was not simply a matter of behaviour, but a result of limited infrastructure, lack of access, and the absence of a structured system to manage waste effectively," a statement by Reef Check Malaysia said.
Building on the data, the non-governmental organisation and its partners undertook a series of community engagement efforts, which led to the formation of a Village Waste Management Committee for the pilot project.
The preparatory phase also included the distribution of colour-coded waste bins, installation of communal collection points, and ongoing awareness efforts to introduce household waste segregation.
"The system was officially launched on March 13, marking the transition from planning to action. Under this pilot phase, 50 households now participate in a scheduled waste collection system, where they are required to segregate their waste and deliver it to designated collection points three times per week.
"A local coordinator has been appointed to manage the process, including weighing waste by category, recording household participation, and monitoring the level of segregation using a standardised logbook system.
"This structured approach ensures accountability and enables real-time tracking of progress, an important shift from the previously informal and unmanaged disposal practices."
Early results from the first phase of implementation indicate signs of change, particularly in the adoption of waste segregation practices during three collection sessions between March 16-25.
The largest proportion of waste collected consisted of paper, boxes and cloth, accounting for 42.1 per cent of the total, followed by plastic waste at 33.5 per cent, and plastic bottles and glass at 21.4 per cent.
Sabah-based Reef Check Malaysia senior programme manager Adzmin Fatta said the initiative demonstrates that meaningful solutions must address both systems and people.
"For too long, water villages have been associated with pollution and neglect.
"What we are seeing in Kg Sri Aman is proof that with the right system, support and community leadership, these narratives can change. This is a model for other coastal communities across Sabah and beyond.
"This is more than just a waste collection system. It is about restoring dignity, ownership and pride within the community," he said, adding the organisation is aiming to expand the initiative to 100 households.
Comments
Post a Comment