Socioeconomic Of Scavenger: Study Case At Johore State, Malaysia

Abstract

The scavenging activities are one of the common phenomena in the Third World Countries. The scavengers are the communities in solid waste management, they are often related to poorness, uneducated and unhealthy group but they are playing the importance role in the recycling activities in Malaysia. The article discusses the scavenging activities and the socioeconomic situation of scavengers in Malaysia. The result showed that the scavenging activities could generate the good income for most of the scavengers, there are four types of scavengers in Malaysia, the scavengers did not report their true health information due to the some constraints, 60 percent of scavengers need necessity at their work place, they realize that the activities of scavenging can reduce amount of solid waste, and lastly scavengers are exposed to the hazardous and unhealthy work place environment. The decision maker must consider these communities into the solid waste management policy framework to prevent and provide them the healthy environment work place.

Keywords: Scavenger, socioeconomic, solid waste management