*2.4. Research Constraints and Limitations*

First, respondents could not be observed while answering the survey during online pre-testing. This led to limited sources of input to improve the questionnaire; therefore, a more comprehensive manner of conducting pre-testing in both online and offline platforms is recommended to extract both observed and verbal feedback. The difficulty in recruiting sufficient samples during the lockdown due to the pandemic in Malaysia was the key constraint faced by the authors. Nevertheless, this should serve as a preliminary study, and similar studies covering a comprehensive sample size targeting 382 respondents are recommended post-pandemic. Second, the number of interviewees recruited from the service providers was limited due, in part, to the lack of effective ways to engage, as no physical visit was allowed due to movement restrictions. No positive response was obtained from private recycling vendors, probably due to the lack of awareness and exposure towards the academic research in the related field. Finally, invitation (survey or interview) through online networks was likely neglected, but this method still had benefits such as receiving responses quicker and in a more convenient way, therefore a combination of online and on-site survey distribution and interview invitation were proposed.

#### **3. Results**

#### *3.1. Demographic Profile*

A total of 100 questionnaire surveys were eligible to be analysed. Most of the respondents are between 18 and 24 years old with pre-university or undergraduate academic qualifications, female, and single. More than half of the respondents are locals who have lived in the community for more than 20 years. Nearly all the respondents live with their family members on landed properties, with the majority having a household size between 5 and 7 persons (Table 1).

#### *3.2. Knowledge Assessment*

Both general and specific knowledge levels were tested among the respondents. In general, the knowledge level among the respondents was rated as moderate (Table 2) according to the scores obtained from Tables 3 and 4, with better scores in general knowledge, where 37.0% scored high.

Table 3 shows the general knowledge among respondents of the R&SS with their benefits and importance to the waste management system, quality environment, and energy consumption. Most of the respondents answered correctly, except for statement #9: all plastics that contain numbered symbols (also known as plastic resin identification codes) can be recycled.


**Table 1.** Demographic profile of the respondents.

**Table 2.** Waste knowledge level among respondents.


**Table 3.** General knowledge level among respondents.



**Table 4.** Specific knowledge level among respondents.

Table 4 shows the responses to the specific knowledge of R&SS based on waste categories for selected items. Most of the respondents selected the categories of waste correctly, except for waste items #1: used tissue paper, #8: photographs and paint, and #9: electronics, batteries, and cables.

#### *3.3. Attitude Assessment*

Overall, the attitude score among the respondents was relatively positive compared to the knowledge score, where 75.0% of the respondents scored between 52 and 70 (Table 5).

**Table 5.** Attitude level among respondents.


Table 6 reveals the results about respondents' perceived participation in different stages of waste management, starting from waste generation, waste storage, waste collection, waste processing, and waste disposal. Overall, the respondents demonstrated a high level of intention to participate in waste management processes, except for the waste collection stage, specifically statement #6: I am willing to pay extra service charges for different waste collection according to its category, and statement #8: I am actively involved in the collection and transport of sorted waste materials in my neighbourhood.

**Table 6.** Involvement in waste management stages.

