Virtual Booth

Solid waste pollution in coastal areas caused by plastic waste, beverage bottles, food waste, and wood debris has become a major environmental challenge that threatens marine ecosystem sustainability, the tourism industry, and community well-being. Conventional beach cleaning methods, which continue to rely heavily on manual labor, have been found to be inefficient in terms of productivity, operational time, and labor costs, thereby creating the need for a more systematic solution. In response to this issue, the Portable Beach Waste Collector (PBWC) was developed as a portable mechanical innovation that integrates a modular, ergonomic, and user-friendly design to enhance the efficiency of solid waste collection in coastal environments. The product was developed through a systematic innovation process involving problem identification, user needs analysis, conceptual design, prototype fabrication, field testing, user evaluation, and performance analysis. The effectiveness of the PBWC was evaluated through field trials conducted at Teluk Lipat Beach, Dungun, Terengganu, over operational distances of 200 m, 300 m, and 500 m. The findings revealed that the PBWC successfully collected 33.2 kg, 44.8 kg, and 60.4 kg of solid waste, representing an 81.9% increase in collection capacity from the 200 m to the 500 m operational distance. The system also demonstrated consistent capability in handling various categories of coastal waste, including plastics, beverage bottles, food waste, and wood debris under actual operating conditions. User evaluation based on a Likert Scale questionnaire indicated a very high level of product acceptance. All respondents (100%) agreed that the PBWC is more innovative than conventional beach cleaning methods, 90% confirmed that it significantly improves the efficiency of solid waste collection, while 100% provided positive evaluations regarding the product's design, safety, and ergonomic features. These findings demonstrate that the PBWC satisfies technical requirements in terms of operational performance, usability, safety, and ergonomics, confirming its suitability for practical application in coastal solid waste management operations. From an innovation perspective, the PBWC offers a practical, low-maintenance, and highly portable solution with strong commercialization potential compared with conventional cleaning approaches. Its modular design facilitates easier maintenance while providing flexibility for future product enhancement and functional expansion. In addition to improving operational productivity and reducing dependence on manual labor, this innovation has significant potential for adoption by local authorities, environmental agencies, and volunteer organizations as a supporting technology for coastal waste management. Overall, the PBWC represents an innovation with substantial technical value, commercial potential, and social impact, contributing to the advancement of green technology and sustainable solid waste management practices. Furthermore, the innovation supports the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water by reducing marine pollution, conserving coastal biodiversity, and strengthening systematic coastal waste management practices.

Keywords: Portable Beach Waste Collector (PBWC), Solid Waste, Innovation, Sustainability.