SEMPORNA: A community-led waste management system introduced in Kg Sri Aman is showing early promise in tackling long-standing marine pollution in Semporna’s water villages.
For years, the stilted settlement lacked a proper disposal system, with most household waste ending up in the sea.
A pre-implementation audit covering 80 households and about 656 residents found the village generated an estimated 230.31kg of waste daily, with 95 per cent of homes lacking proper bins.
The initiative, under the Semporna Waste Management Programme led by Reef Check Malaysia with support from Etika Sdn Bhd and local authorities, aims to address systemic gaps in infrastructure and access rather than behaviour alone.
Community engagement sessions in February and March led to the formation of a 10-member Village Waste Management Committee and secured participation from 50 households in the pilot phase.
Measures included the distribution of colour-coded bins, installation of communal collection points and awareness campaigns on waste segregation.
Launched on March 13, the pilot requires participating households to separate and deposit waste at designated points three times weekly.
A local coordinator oversees collection, recording and monitoring through a standardised system.
Initial data from three collection cycles between March 16 and 25 indicates improving segregation practices. Paper, boxes and cloth made up 42.1pc of collected waste, followed by plastics at 33.5pc, and plastic bottles and glass at 21.4pc.
Sanitary waste accounted for just 3.1pc, lower than expected, suggesting cultural sensitivities remain a challenge.
Participation peaked at 35 households before dipping during the Hari Raya period, but has since begun to recover.
While some households are still adjusting, early signs of behavioural change include improved use of communal bins and waste storage practices.
Reef Check Malaysia Senior Programme Manager Adzmin Fatta said the initiative demonstrates that effective solutions must address both systems and community needs.
“This is more than just a waste collection system — it is about restoring dignity, ownership and pride within the community,” he said, adding that the model could be replicated in other coastal villages.
The programme aims to expand coverage to all 100 households in Kampung Sri Aman, positioning the village as a model for community-driven efforts to reduce marine pollution in Sabah.
