Written by Noor’ain Aini
On 25 June 2025, eighteen International Relations students from the Politics of Developing Countries course at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), collaborated with Green Sky Enterprise to implement a Service Learning Malaysia (SULAM) project titled There is Us in Sustainability, focusing on the critical issue of electronic waste, or e-waste.
The project aimed to raise awareness within the UNIMAS community about the dangers of unmanaged e-waste disposal while promoting responsible management practices. Although the project was initially designed to collect used electronic items, its scope later expanded to include other types of waste such as paper, steel, aluminium, and plastics. At the collection point in the FSSH lobby, waste items were sorted according to type before being transported by the vendor for proper disposal.
Carried out in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – specifically Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Climate Action (SDG 13) – the project highlighted that improper disposal of electronic waste can lead to soil and water pollution due to hazardous heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium.
According to the Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia generated roughly 24.5 million units or 285,000 metric tons of e-waste in 2024, a significant increase from previous years. However, only about 1% of this total is collected and disposed of properly.
“Through this project, we want to create an understanding within the UNIMAS community that every electronic item disposed of carelessly will have long-term effects on human health and the balance of the ecosystem. Such awareness is crucial to ensure the well-being of future generations,” said Zeti Hanis bt Zulhamlee, Secretary of the Project.
The impact of the project was evident not only in increased knowledge of proper e-waste management among participants but also in the collection of various types of used electronics and other waste, especially paper, for safe disposal. In total, over 120 kg of used electronic items were collected alongside other items recorded by unit count.
Course lecturer, Madam Noor’ain Aini expressed hope that the initiative would further spark student-led plans to organize similar campaigns within UNIMAS to strengthen sustainability practices among the university community.
“Malaysia is fortunate. Unlike some developing countries such as Ghana, India, or Pakistan, we do not have to grapple with illegal e-waste imports from developed countries. Nevertheless, we face significant challenges due to our own high domestic e-waste generation and inadequate recycling infrastructure,” she noted.
With its theme There is Us in Sustainability, this project stands as a testament to UNIMAS’ commitment to support community-based education and nurture social responsibility among students in contributing to the nation’s sustainable development.
FSSH – A Partner for Social Change!