With support from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) piloted an integrated waste management system in the Mersing Islands in Malaysia, in partnership with Reef Check Malaysia. The pilot aimed to overcome the pollution challenges faced by small remote islands through capacity building, education, awareness, training, investment in essential infrastructure and equipment, and establishing long-term financial support for the transport of recyclables. This case study showcases how pollution can be effectively reduced in the marine environment of remote islands through community-based waste management solutions. The case study is part of a series developed by COBSEA with partners in the region aimed at sharing lessons learned and replicating good practices on integrated plastic waste management in remote and island communities in the East Asian Seas region. All COBSEA case studies are available on the web platform of the Regional Node of the GPML.