KOTA KINABALU: For years, water villages in Semporna have struggled with solid waste, often making headlines for marine pollution and environmental degradation.
One such example can be seen in Kampung Sri Aman, where homes are built over the sea, and the absence of a proper waste management system results in rubbish ending up directly in the ocean.
That narrative is beginning to change through the introduction of a structured, community-based waste management system under the Semporna Waste Management Programme led by Reef Check Malaysia, where bins are provided and waste collection scheduled.
Studies were conducted to assess the total waste generated, its composition and the best approach to its management, Reef Check Malaysia said in a statement.
With support from the Semporna District Office and District Council, and the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry as well as private sector partners, it conducted a comprehensive door-to-door waste audit.
Covering 80 households and approximately 656 residents, the study revealed that the village generated an estimated 230.31kg of waste per day, with over 95% of households not having proper access to waste bins and trash being thrown directly into the sea.
These findings highlighted a systemic issue: waste pollution in the village was not simply a matter of behaviour, but a result of limited infrastructure, lack of access, and the absence of a structured system to manage waste effectively.
A series of community engagement efforts since February led to the formation of a village waste management committee and commitments from 50 households to participate in a pilot phase.
The waste collection system's pilot phase was launched on March 13 and included colour-coded waste bins, setting up communal collection points, and conducting awareness efforts to introduce the concept of household waste segregation.
Participants were required to separate their rubbish and deliver it to a designated collection point three times a week.
Three collection sessions since March 16 showed promising signs of adoption.
Paper, boxes and cloth accounted for 42.1% of the total waste collected in these sessions, followed by plastic waste (33.5%) and bottles, both plastic and glass (21.4%).
Sanitary waste, including disposable diapers and pads, accounted for only 3.1% of the total collected, significantly lower than expected based on the initial audit.
Participation trends indicated that while waste segregation was improving, some households were still adapting, the statement read.
Reef Check Malaysia senior programme manager Adzmin Fatta said the initiative shows that meaningful solutions must address both systems and people.
He stressed that the findings from the waste audit clearly showed that the issue was not a lack of willingness within the community, but rather the absence of access and structure.
"This is more than just a waste collection system – it’s about restoring dignity, ownership, and pride within the community," he said, adding that this model can be adopted in other coastal communities, not just in Sabah.
"For too long, water villages have been associated with pollution and neglect. What we are seeing in Kg Sri Aman is proof that with the right system, support, and community leadership, these narratives can change," he said.
The long-term target is to expand the system to all 100 households in the village as a critical first step towards reducing marine pollution at its source, he added.
He said the initiative has shown that water villages can be active partners in building sustainable solutions instead of merely being seen as contributors to environmental degradation.
