Pangkor Island is small island that is famous for local tourists and consists of few fishing villages. There is no proper waste disposal facilities on the island. The objective is reducing solid waste disposal (either in landfill site or sea) up to 60,000 kg. by implementing incentive based 3R program (reduce, reuse & recycle) to the local communities.

The methodologies deployed include design and implementation of an innovative model through a point reward system. Local communities are educated on the importance of reducing the waste and recycle recyclable items in the island as there is no disposal facilities for toxic items such as e-waste and plastics available in this small island. Subsequently an integrated online portal for reward point registration, management and redemption has been set up. The registered members will send their clean recyclable items to the recycling center, those items will be weighed and reward points will be keyed into the system accordingly. This allow the members to check on their cumulative points from time to time.

Members can redeem items such as household items and biodegradable products using points they have collected. The profit would be made through selling of the recyclable items to support the manpower required to collect, segregate and send the recyclable items to the mainland where the recycle facilities available. To make the system sustainable, the transportation cost to collect recyclable items from household to householder has to reduce, the project achieved this through encouraging members to send directly to the recycling center and also working with government appointed waste collectors.

Follow up mechanisms include the monitoring of waste sent to the waste collection centre and reduced direct pollution of the sea, recyclable items delivered to the recycling centre and how the profit generated from recyclable items can support the manpower involved in the recycle centre.

To ensure the sustainability of the project, government, private sector (waste management companies) and local civil society need to work hand-in-hand. A sound business model needs to be developed by end of the project, government needs to continue providing support to the local communities and waste management companies must commit to the recycling program and only dispose items that cannot be recycled.