Awareness, Attitude and Behavioural Status of Waste Management: A Profile of Malaysian Contractors

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Begum, Rawshan Ara | Pereira, Joy Jacqueline

Affiliations: Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Note: [] Corresponding Author. E-mail: rawshan@pkrisc.cc.ukm.my

Abstract: This paper highlights the awareness, attitude and behavioural status of local contractors in the Malayisan construction industry with respect to waste management. It is pointed out from the findings that the contractors' behaviour, which is reflected by their attitude and awareness, tends to be different depending on their registration category to the CIDB such as large, medium or small contractors. The results also show that contractors are relatively less familiar with source reduction compared to recycling. Thus, the efforts to increase awareness among contractors in the Malaysian construction industry should be intensified as it will create a positive attitude and lead to improvements in their waste management practices. The findings of this study could help environmental and waste management planners in their decision making for managing construction waste and reducing environmental pollution in Malaysia.

Keywords: Reduce, reuse and recycling, waste management, awareness, attitude, behaviour, construction industry

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 15-22, 2008