GEORGE TOWN, Nov 11 — The majority of Penang residents are agreeable to the state’s plan to enforce mandatory waste separation, believing it would be a good method to encourage recycling efforts, according to a study by the Penang Green Council (PGC).

PCG vice chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who revealed the results of the two-month study today, said 86.5 per cent of the respondents agreed to the introduction of the policy in Malaysia’s northernmost state.

"A majority of the respondents believe more people will separate their waste if the laws are enforced," he said at a press conference today.

"We believe that in general, Penang residents are supportive of the Penang government's vision of mandatory waste segregation at source in June 2016," he added.

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According to Chow, the study was carried out between July 29 and September 29 and saw 1,484 respondents polled for their views.

Among others, he said respondents were asked to suggest options for waste management. Of those polled, 70.4 per cent suggested the enforcement of waste segregation at source and 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) policies.

"Analysis results show that a majority of the respondents understood the 3R concept and practice it in their daily lives where most respondents separate recyclable items such as paper (80.20 per cent) and newspaper (76.9 per cent)," he said.

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The rate for recycling of electronic waste and food waste composting was lower at 35 per cent and 25.1 per cent respectively, he revealed.

The two reasons identified for the lower food waste composting include the lack of space for composting and a lack of knowledge on how to compost.

Chow, who is also the state executive councilor in charge of local government, traffic management and flood mitigation, said the positive results of the survey could be partly credited to the state’s successful "No Free Plastic Bag Day” that was introduced in July 2009.

"It is considered successful as 80.7 per cent of the respondents now bring along their own bags for shopping," he said.

As for suggested options on what to do when the Pulau Burung landfill reaches its lifespan, Chow said other than waste segregation and 3R policies and practices, 66.3 per cent suggested technology such as Waste-To-Energy, while 35.7 per cent suggested a new sanitary landfill.

He said Penangites generated a total of 656,090 tonnes of waste in 2014.

"An average of 1,700 to 1,800 tonnes of waste are sent to Pulau Burung landfill every day and it costs between RM100 and RM120 to collect, transport and treat a tonne of waste," he said.

"We will take the result from this survey into consideration during the policy making process of the mandatory waste segregation at source," he said.