The National Council for Peace and Order has approved a garbage management roadmap that aims to increase efficiency in handling waste and landfills.
A huge landfill seen here in Baan Pom village in Ayutthaya, which has a pilot waste management project that includes using a fumeless incinerator. SUNTHORN PONGPAO
There are 2,500 landfills nationwide and 80% have poor management and need significant improvement or may be closed down permanently, said Wichien Jungrungruang, director-general of the of the Pollution Control Department.
Speaking at a seminar on the crisis facing Thailand's garbage industry and sustainable solutions, he said the country had about 27 million tonnes of trash and only half is properly disposed of.
Mr Wichien attributed poor landfill management to budgetary problems at local administrations, lack of monetary benefits to the community and a lack of qualified personnel.
In general, local administrations and communities take care of landfills.
The roadmap also aims to create new values among people about proper waste disposal through schools, garbage sorting at sources and landfills, and conversion of garbage to energy and biogas. Mr Wichien said some plans could be in effect in about a week but a project for a garbage power plant would need further studies into its long-term sustainability.
The roadmap will also allow room for the private sector to invest and manage in waste management. But for the plan to be sustainable in the long run, producers must use fewer packaging materials.
The roadmap will also overhaul waste management in six provinces: Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Saraburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani.
Apart from the large amount of daily disposed garbage, more than 20 million tonnes of accumulated garbage are awaiting proper disposal. Samut Prakan has the most with about 10 million tonnes, followed by Songkhla, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Ratchaburi, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya and Prachin Buri, each with 2 million tonnes.
Each day, Bangkok generates two kilogrammes of garbage per person, while provinces generate 0.93 kg per person.
Federation of Thai Industries chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree said garbage management is one of the most important issues facing the country. The amount of rubbish increases as a result of economic growth, tourism and increased use of packaging. The amount of garbage rises by 5% per year but only 70% is recycled.
"While the industrial sector is aware of the waste problems and has improved its efforts to properly manage waste, this is a problem that requires cooperation between the public and private sectors to deal with it sustainably," said Mr Supant.