The renewable energy industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is calling on the government to increase the price of electricity produced from garbage to spur private investment in the sector.
Club chairman Pichai Tinsuntisook said the government should provide greater support for garbage-to-electricity businesses by raising the electricity price from such projects to between four and 4.50 baht a kilowatt-hour.
At present, electricity produced from garbage sold to power authorities is priced at 3.50 baht per kWh, whereas solar power costs 15 baht per kWh.
"We're urging the government to adjust the policy by lifting the electricity price to four to 4.50 baht per kWh so it will drive more investment from the private sector," Mr Pichai said.
Nattapon Nattasomboon, director-general of the Industrial Works Department, agreed with the idea of raising the price of electricity produced from garbage, saying it was one of the lowest rates offered by renewable energy projects.
He also said setting up a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) power plant that produces electricity from solid waste would help waste management, but community acceptance was necessary.
"Raising the awareness of the communities is essential so they can understand and accept this alternative energy project," Mr Nattapon said.
"Waste-related problems seem to be growing more serious, and some people have to live with them."
Meanwhile, the FTI has been in talks with Samut Prakan authorities about the possibility of setting up an RDF project in the province.
Developed by a group of the club's members including Zero Waste Co, the project will be operated in 2016 at an estimated cost of 1 billion baht.
Zero Waste managing director Taksuta Tinsuntisook said garbage at the Praksa dump in Samut Prakan is sufficient to produce electricity.
"Garbage in this landfill could generate 20 megawatts in total, enough for a small town in the Northeast," she said.
Figures from the Pollution Control Department show garbage at the Praksa dump site amounts to 6 million tonnes out of a total 10 million tonnes of garbage in Samut Prakan.
"Turning garbage in this landfill into electricity is a worthwhile investment to help solve the problem of improper garbage management," Ms Taksuta said.
However, Prof Usa Viseshasumana, a waste management specialist with Thammasat University's environmental sciences faculty, expressed concerns about environmental aspect of turning waste into electricity.
"Indeed, it is a good practice to turn waste into electricity. However, establishing standards for the industry is needed to ensure that it produces less pollution," she said.