Household waste management is considered as part of the municipal waste where it contributes to a large amount to municipal solid waste (MSW). It is crucial to identify the existing waste management behavior of the household to make adjustment and process improvement to achieve sustainable waste management. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the behavior and factors that influence community behavior in managing household waste in rural areas particularly in Kampung Sungai Midin, Kuching, Sarawak. The study focuses on physical environment as well as social and cultural aspects. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative approach. Quantitative data were collected by using questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 24.0 while qualitative data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews, semi-structured interview, and observation. These interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The survey method involved 75 respondents, selected based on convenience sampling method. The findings show that respondents’ behavior was highly influenced by physical environment (57.6%) and moderately influenced by social and cultural aspects (42.4%). The physical features of the river as well as the condition and characteristics of some houses built on stilts along the riverbank could be seen as a means of easing the household waste. Furthermore, lack of facilities is one of the barriers that hinders them from practicing waste segregation and recycling. Low social interaction affects the intention of community to engage in sustainable household waste management. There are no individuals or groups who can motivate community to manage their waste with the sustainability concept. In this context, technology advancement should not be viewed as the only means for waste management but an effective solid waste management requires active public involvement, awareness and acceptance at all level of societies. To inspire the community’s sense of “mottainai,” motivation for waste reduction and recycling should be done continuously with coordination from various stakeholders (both public and private sectors) with common vision and shared goals in support of sustainable growth. Provision of waste management facilities is also vital as well as incentive mechanism to promote 3R initiative among the community. Hence, a bottom-up approach together with top-down approach is essential in enhancing community’s sustainable behavior in waste management.