1.

0 Introduction

Population growth and pollution has resulted in rapid depletion of natural resources and
environmental degradation. The existing Millennium Development Goals (MDG), guide human progress
towards sustainable development without endangering the environment. The seventh objective of MDG
fortifies promotion of environmental sustainability via capacity building and sound environmental
decision-making. Implementation of 3R is one of its main approaches.

In waste management phraseology, the 3R, which connote “reduce, reuse and recycle”, was adopted
by waste managers world wide as the most appropriate strategy towards sustainable development. It
associates with the current inclination of waste management planners towards a more environmental
friendly waste management concept with minimal disposal of waste. In a declining preference, the
practices range from reduction strategies to the possibility of reuse, followed by recycling opportunities
and finally disposal.

Malaysia is known for its great food. Unfortunately, our unique food culture also turning into a
culture of waste. Statistic shows that, in 2015 Malaysia reached 15,000 tonnes of food waste daily,
including 3,000 tonnes that was fit for consumption and should not be discarded(Malaysia kini 2016). In
2012, it was reported that Malaysians produced 33,000 tonnes of solid waste daily and will exceed the
projected production of 30,000 tonnes by 2020.
2.0 Background of Study

Reduce, reuse and recycle are separate but interconnected concepts that support the same goal of
maintaining a healthy world. Though they sound and appear similar, reduce, reuse and recycle are distinct
elements in the language of resource conservation.

The first and most effective way of the 3R is the reduce. Keeping purchases to a minimum is an
important way of reducing the toll on the Earth's resources. Lowering consumption is the key to the
concept of reducing, which can apply to physical objects as well as natural resources, such as gas,
electricity and water. Not to be confused with reusing or recycling, reducing means lowering or
eradicating use from the start. Cutting back on unnecessary purchases lowers the rate at which materials
are used, but also effectively lowers the energy, gas and transportation costs that are accrued when an
item is made and sold. The term "reduce" clearly applies to lifestyle. Reducing driving would mean
combining trips, carpooling, and walking, biking, and taking public transportation when possible. Taking
shorter showers, landscaping appropriately to the local climate and replacing older, less efficient
appliances with Energy Star appliances all fit under the reducing concept.

The next is reuse. "Reuse" is a broad term that combines reusing materials and using items that have
reusable qualities. Paper plates are an example of a non-reusable product. Cutlery that can be reused
prevents waste at the landfill, but it also lowers the amount of energy needed to manufacture new
products. Less pollution results, and more natural resources are left intact. Consider the possibilities of an
item before discarding it, as it might be reused toward a different purpose than originally intended. An old
shirt may become a car rag. Though reuse is different from reducing use, when an item is reused,
consumption is reduced as a by-product.

The term "recycle" refers to the process in which an item or its components are used to create
something new. Plastic bottles are recycled and made into carpet, pathways and benches. Glass and
aluminum are other commonly recycled materials. Recycling is technically a form of reusing, but it refers
more specifically to items that are discarded and broken down into their raw materials. Recycling
companies convert the original item and then sell the now-usable material. Some companies purchase
secondhand material and use it to manufacture a new product, which is another form of recycling.

Combined, reduce, reuse and recycle form a complete circle that can preserve natural resources;
reduce waste, energy consumption and pollutants; and protect the planet. Composting offers an example
of all three resource conservation elements. With composting, natural materials are recycled into a form
in which gardeners and landowners reuse them. When using homegrown compost, the need for artificial
fertilizers is reduced; also reduced is space taken up needlessly in landfills for material that can instead go
back to the earth.
3.0 Problem Statement

Based on observation in Tunku Tun Aminah library’s cafe, several problems can be identified :-

- Lack awareness of the 3R bin

- No moral consciousness about 3R programs

- Lack promotional aspect on 3R practices

- The 3R bin are not colour coded and cannot be easily distinguished

- Cafe does not enforce to separate solid waste

4.0 Analysis of Problem

Based on the problem statement, the lack of awareness, no moral conscious about 3R programs can
be seen in Figure 1. It shows how lack student and staff are about 3R programs and just disposed the solid
waste to a normal bin and not separate the waste. This can clearly shows the average mentality of students
and staffs in UTHM.

Next, the lack of promotional aspect can be seen in Figure 2 where there are only minimal posters or
advertisement about the 3R bin and can be considered as ‘invisible’ due to non strategic places of the
advertisement or poorly made advertisement.

Next, the problem is with the bin existing around the cafe. There are several recycle bin around the
cafe but all of it has the same colour coded and cannot be easily distinguished with normal bin as in
Figure 3. This will lead to people just throw the solid waste into one particular bin until it easily overload
as shown in Figure 4.

Lastly, as mentioned in problem statement, the cafe management did not imply any strict means for
example students or staffs can be fine if caught did not clean after eat at their premises or littering. This
measure can make sure that whenever someone eat at their premises they will remember to clean and
separate the solid waste.
5.0 Discussion

Mainly, four factors are involved which drive the success of 3Rs implementation in the countries like
Singapore, Korea and Japan. These include human drivers, economic drivers, institutional drivers and the
environment driver (Agamuthu et al, 2009).

Human driver involves population growth factor which resulted in increased waste generation.
Additionally, human drivers also include human well being and human attentiveness towards the practice
of 3Rs. The increase in population resulted in an increase in waste generation which indirectly caused
higher pollution to the environment. In order to ensure human well being, the third human driver namely
human awareness is essential. This is due to the concern and need to ensure that human is maintained in a
clean and comfortable environment. Therefore, in the sense of 3Rs practice the underlying contributor of
human driver basically would result in voluntary participation 729 among public and private sectors. It is
generally due to the awareness to ensure that pollution i.e. waste generated, can be minimized. This is
seen in Singapore, Japan and Korea, where 3Rs practice is high due to the high participation in 3Rs
activities. On the other hand, lack of human drivers as seen in Malaysia, Thailand and many Pacific
Islands resulted with failure in 3Rs implementation. Therefore, this issue needs to be tackled via
dissemination of information on the importance of 3Rs practices. It is achievable through education and
campaign to create awareness, thus would create positive response in cooperating and participating in 3R
activities.

6.0 Probable solution

There are several thing that can be done as a probable solution to this problem and one of it is
UTHM’s committee or person in charge need to organize a program for students and staffs about 3R so
that their mentality can be change and more people will know the difference every individual make upon
saving the earth. A program such as CSR programs or awareness campaign can be done every month to
implement the importance of 3R.

Next, the cafe premises need to put more creative advertisement or at a more visible place so that
individuals that come and eat at their premises will always be reminded to clean and separate the solid
wast to the right bin.

Next, the cafe premises need to change their recycling bin into different colour coded so it will be
easier to recognize where to separate the solid waste.
7.0 Recommendation

The most simple recommendation that the cafe can make is to change all the bin into colour coded
recycle bin. Not only this can make it easier for students and staffs to separate solid waste, but it also ease
the problem of a single particular bin to be overfill with solid waste.

Next the cafe can also to make sure that anyone that eat on their premise must clean and separate
their waste and dishes according to label as shown in Figure 5. This will eliminate the work load of the
workers and make it easier for the cafe to clean their premises.

8.0 Conclusion

In economically developed countries, the 3R strategies are successfully enabling the waste
management system to thrive towards sustainable development. However, the implementation is found to
be less effective in the developing countries where various issues and challenges are hurdles, which need
to be overcome in order for all individuals in UTHM to move towards the Millennium Development
Goals.
References

1. Agamuthu P. and Fauziah S.H. (2008) Waste management technologies in Malaysia: The future
prospect. In The Proceeding of iCAST Future Challenge: An integrated approach towards Science
and Technology for Sustainable development. Pahang, Malaysia. pg 1-3, 13-15 June 2008.

2. Agamuthu, P., Fauziah, S.H. and Simon, C. (2004) Towards efficient waste management in
developing countries (Malaysia)- the dilemma. In Proceedings of the Conference of Solid Waste,
21-24 March 2004. Philadelphia, USA. pp. 637-646.

3. Agamuthu, P., Fauziah, S.H., Khidzir, K.M. (2009) The evolution of solid waste management in
Malaysia: Impacts and implications of the Solid Waste Bill, 2007. Journal of Material Cycles and
Waste Management. 11(2): 96 - 103.

4. Agamuthu, P., Khidzir, K.M. and Fauziah, S.H. (2009a) Drivers of sustainable waste management in
Asia. Waste Management and Research. 27:625-633.

5. AIT (2004) Municipal Solid Waste Management in Asia, Asian Regional Research Program on
Environmental Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. ISBN: 974-417-258-1.

6. Andin, A.Z.L. (2007) Implementation of 3Rs in the Philippines.

(http://www.env.go.jp/recycle/3r/en/s_officials/02-02/11.pdf. (August 28,

2008)

7. Chenayah, S., Agamuthu, P., Takeda, E. (2007) Multi-criteria Modelling on Recycling of Municipal
Solid Waste in Subang Jaya. Malaysian Journal of Science, 26 (1), 1 – 16.

8. China Statistics Press (2001) China Statistical Yearbook 2001. 4 – 1 Population and its Composition.
http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/statisticaldata/yearlydata/YB2001e/ml/ind exE.htm (August 22,
2008).

9. Cointreau, S. (2006) Sustainable Solid Waste Systems in Developing Countries. Presentations made
by the World Bank through live webcast, February-March 2006.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTURBANDEVELOPMENT/EXTU
WM/0,,contentMDK:20239437~menuPK:463861~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:463841
,00.html#planning10 (August 28, 2008).

10. Enayetullah, I. (2006) community based solid waste management through public-private-community
partnerships: experience of waste concern in Bangladesh. Paper presented at 3R Asia Conference
Tokyo, Japan October 30 to November 1, 2006.