Impact of Movement Control Order on Carbon Footprint Generation from Solid Waste in Higher Learning Institutions

• Published in: Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
• Main Author: Hussein N.; Zakaria M.D.; Hassan C.H.C.; Jan S.L.M.; Zaidi N.S.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85200362236&doi=10.1007%2f978-981-97-0751-5_17&partnerID=40&md5=88c3105bd01bb395afe879389048f559

The carbon footprint refers to the environmental impact resulting from an individual’s activities, specifically in relation to global warming. This influence is manifested through the emission of greenhouse gases during their everyday routines. Waste is a significant factor in the generation of carbon footprint, which in turn contributes to the phenomenon of global warming. This environmental concern poses a grave and pressing challenge to the worldwide community. Furthermore, there has been an elevated rate of waste production observed throughout the implementation of the Movement Control Order, primarily attributed to individuals’ heightened concerns regarding their personal health and safety. This preoccupation has led to a neglect of the equally pressing issue of global warming. The phenomenon of panic buying, coupled with habitual behaviour and a lack of awareness while online shopping and food delivery, contributes to an increase in daily waste production. This study aims to examine the effects of the Movement Control Order on the carbon footprint resulting from solid waste at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai. This study aims to provide empirical evidence regarding the carbon footprint generated by students. The research was conducted at Kolej Tun Dr. Ismail, an academic institution affiliated with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The procedure involved the measurement of the garbage generated by individuals at Kolej Tun Dr. Ismail, based on its respective waste category. The study was conducted over a duration of one month, with data collecting scheduled to occur twice each week. This study indicates that the quantity of carbon emissions generated through waste production is greater during the Movement Control Order period compared to regular days. Specifically, the carbon footprint per capita was found to be 0.220 kg CO2eq during the MCO, however it decreased to 0.201 kg CO2eq after the MCO. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.