Beyond the Bin: Understanding Public Resistance to Sustainable Waste Management in Seremban, Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia’s waste management sector faces growing challenges due to increasing waste generation, inadequate infrastructure, heavy reliance on landfills, and low recycling rates. This study examines factors influencing public resistance to effective waste management practices in Seremban, focusing on financial constraints, public participation and awareness, and socio-cultural attitudes. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM), a cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among 122 respondents from urban and rural areas using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. The findings revealed that all three factors significantly influenced public resistance to waste management practices. Multiple regression analysis showed that the model explained 80.9% of the variance in public resistance, with socio-cultural attitude emerging as the most influential factor. The findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive interventions, community engagement, public awareness, and improved financial and infrastructural support in promoting sustainable waste management. However, the cross-sectional design, convenience sampling, self-reported data, and small sample size limit the generalisability of the findings. Future studies should consider larger samples and mixed-method approaches.