OVERVIEW ON THE NEED OF COMPREHENSIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SMALL ISLANDS: THE CASE OF THE PERHENTIAN ISLANDS, TERENGGANU

Waste management is a serious environmental problem for small islands, more significantly so compared to the mainland. The large amount of wastes produced by tourists for example is a difficult problem for small islands particularly since it is typically generated over a short period, thereby often overloading existing disposal and treatment facilities. Protection of the environment from pollution is extremely important on a small island, since aside from other reasons that are common to all countries, two important industries, tourism and fisheries, depend on a pristine environment. This paper overviews the current waste management plans of the Perhentian Islands and its effectiveness, and the problems that are being encountered, both by local municipal and chalet owners. An outline strategy is laid out to improve the current waste management plan such as focusing and going back to recycling, which is seen as more economical and environmentally friendly.