From Trash to Transformation: Universiti Sains Malaysia Students Help Communities Rethink Waste

The Problem

Seberang Perai, located on the mainland of Penang State in northern Malaysia, is one of the country’s fastest-growing districts. As the population grows, so does the waste. The district’s main landfill is reaching capacity, and in many smaller villages, narrow roads make it hard for garbage trucks to reach homes. Residents often rely on shared dumping points, which quickly overflow, especially during holiday periods, causing foul odors, pest problems, and environmental concerns.

Although awareness campaigns exist, many community members still lack basic knowledge about recycling and composting. Most view waste management as the government’s responsibility, not something the community should be involved in. Initial surveys confirmed that participation in waste reduction efforts was low, and even fewer residents understood local recycling policies or proper waste segregation practices.

The Opportunity

This situation presented a learning opportunity for both the community and the students of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Through a course in public sector economics, students were encouraged to move beyond the classroom and into neighborhoods, where they could apply their knowledge to real public-sector challenges.

Guided by the EPIC Model, students worked in partnership with city councils and civil society organizations to tackle the issue of waste through community-based action. The course, SEU335E: Public Sector Economics, emphasized hands-on learning, where students co-designed solutions directly with local communities, rather than delivering pre-set programs with support from EPIC Asia, the project connected academic learning with municipal needs in a way that was both practical and deeply collaborative.

Students split into teams and partnered with different neighborhoods across Seberang Perai. They began by conducting pre-surveys to understand residents’ challenges and habits around waste. Based on those insights, they planned and implemented a wide range of activities—from awareness campaigns and composting workshops to community clean-ups and pilot sorting programs. Residents were not just participants; they were collaborators.

Some teams focused on high-rise flats, where they introduced composting initiatives and food waste sorting. Others worked in rural areas to organize Waste Warriors Day, where residents led their own neighborhood clean-up activities. Students also developed simple, low-cost tools like sorting bins and bilingual flyers to make the process more accessible. In every case, they followed up with post-project surveys and conversations to measure impact and gather feedback.

The Partnership

The project brought together Universiti Sains Malaysia, the Seberang Perai City Council, and the Consumer Association of Penang. Within Universiti Sains Malaysia, the Public Sector Economics course (SEU335E) under the School of Social Sciences provided the platform for students to engage directly with local sustainability issues. The city council supported the implementation by identifying target areas and offering technical and logistical coordination. The Consumer Association of Penang contributed local knowledge and community connections, ensuring activities were grounded in everyday realities.

The collaboration followed the EPIC Model, which embeds local government priorities into university teaching to enable students, municipal officials, and communities to work together on real-world problems. Universiti Sains Malaysia carries out this work as part of EPIC Asia, a regional platform of the global EPIC-Network.

The Result

By the end of the semester, results were visible. Awareness of recycling and composting improved significantly. Community members could describe proper sorting methods and were more willing to engage in sustainability efforts. In several areas, compost bins introduced by the students were still in use weeks after the project ended. Clean-up activities that began as one-off events became recurring routines, organized by residents.

Most importantly, the mindset around waste began to shift. Residents no longer viewed it solely as a municipal issue but as something that affects them personally and something they can help change. Students, too, reported that they had gained much more than academic credit—they had learned how to listen, co-create, and lead.

Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive. Residents praised the students not only for their energy but also for their willingness to work side by side with them. Some even requested that the university continue engaging in similar projects in the future.

Looking Forward

The team at Universiti Sains Malaysia hopes to build on this success. There are plans to scale the project to other districts and incorporate additional topics such as plastic reduction, food waste recovery, and school-based awareness campaigns. Follow-up visits and long-term partnerships with the same communities are also being considered to ensure continuity.

The project is being submitted for national recognition under Malaysia’s community engagement and sustainability programs, including the Ministry of Higher Education’s SULAM initiative. Whether or not awards are received, the true success lies in the people and places where change has already taken root.

This collaboration shows what is possible when students, local governments, and communities learn from one another and work together. Through the EPIC Model, what began as a class project became something much larger, a meaningful, shared step toward sustainability.

Partnership Contact Information

Universiti Sains Malaysia
Professor Saidatulakmal Mohd

eieydda@usm.my

Written by: Jonathan Kroeze
Edited by: Kay Phanthuwongpakdee