Masyarakat dan amalan pengurusan sisa pepejal ke arah kelestarian komuniti: Kes isi rumah wanita di Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia (Society and the practise of solid waste management towards sustainable community: The case of female households in Bandar Baru Bangi, Malaysia)

Abstract

Pertambahan penduduk, proses pembandaran dan perindustrian yang pesat menyebabkan bertambahnya sisa pepejal yang dijana oleh masyarakat. Pengurusan sisa pepejal merupakan antara masalah utama yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat terutama di bandar. Kos pengurusan sisa pepejal dari peringkat pengutipan, pengumpulan, pengangkutan sampah hingga ke tahap pelupusan, sangat tinggi. Kuantiti sisa pepejal khususnya sampah domestik perlu dikurangkan bagi mengurangkan perbelanjaan kerajaan. Aspek kos merupakan penggerak sistem pengurusan sisa pepejal yang baik. Namun, oleh kerana caj yang dikenakan kepada masyarakat tidak setanding dengan kos pengurusan sisa, pihak berkuasa tempatan sukar untuk meningkatkan kualiti perkhidmatan kepada masyarakat kerana keterbatasan modal, guna tenaga, operasi, kenderaan serta kekurangan peralatan. Oleh kerana kos pengurusan sisa pepejal semakin meningkat, maka program kitar semula dilaksanakan bagi mengurangkan kuantiti sisa pepejal yang dibuang dipunca. Para sarjana mencadangkan supaya caj yang dikenakan kepada masyarakat juga ditingkatkan agar sampah yang dihasilkan oleh masyarakat dapat dikurangkan. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, makalah ini bertujuan menilai apakah cadangan di atas sesuai dengan keadaan di Malaysia. Kajian juga bertujuan mengenal pasti anggaran kesanggupan membayar (WTP) masyarakat terhadap perkhidmatan yang lebih baik. Berasaskan data yang dikumpulkan melalui kaji selidik ke atas wanita di Bandar Baru Bangi, kajian ini menunjukkan kesanggupan membayar (WTP) berkait dengan pendapatan yang diterima masyarakat. Sehubungan itu, terdapat beberapa faktor yang mempengaruhi penjanaan sisa pepejal. Hierarki pengurusan sisa pepejal juga digariskan. Disarankan agar kadar caj berasaskan cross subsidy dilaksanakan. Melaluinya isi rumah yang berpendapatan tinggi dikenakan bayaran yang lebih tinggi. Adakah golongan berpendapatan tinggi bersedia membayar caj yang lebih tinggi bagi mengurus sisa pepejal? Beberapa implikasi dasar akan diutarakan dalam makalah ini.

Katakunci: cukai lebih tinggi, hierarki pengurusan, isi rumah wanita, pembandaran, pendapatan isi rumah, pengurusan sisa pepejal

Population growth, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have contributed tremendously to the generating of municipal solid waste by the society. Solid waste problem is one of the main problems faced by communities, especially in urban areas. High cost for solid waste management from the point of collection, the transporting of waste to the point of disposal and finally the disposal, has been one of the most important factors that is crucial in the solid waste management hierarchy. This very high cost triggers the need for waste to be reduced in the most effective and efficient ways so that it can reduce the government’s allocation and budget in the waste management. This cost factor is the source of the driving force for waste management systems to run well. However, the cost to society is not comparable with the waste management costs. The local government’s constrains to improve services to the community are due to limited capital, labourers, operations, vehicles and other equipments. Paying more for the cost of managing the solid waste and recycling programme will reduce the overall bulk of solid waste to their designated areas. It is also believed that, if the cost to society is high, the amount of solid waste generated will also be reduced. From this viewpoint, the present study attempts to assess whether the above view is relevant to situation in Malaysia. The study also identifies the estimated willingness to pay (WTP) of people for better services. Data of the present study were gathered through a questionnaire survey among women in Bandar Baru Bangi. Results of analysis tended to show that the WTP relates to income received by the community. This article also outlines the factors that influence the generation of solid waste and solid waste management hierarchy. It is recommended that high-income households be charged a higher rate. Are the high-income groups willing to pay higher charges in solid waste management? Some policy implications will be addressed in this article.

Keywords: female households, hierarchy of management, higher rates, household income, solid waste management, urbanization