The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) committee will seek a solution to the local waste problem in the three strategic provinces of Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong, while local business operators have agreed on construction of waste-to-energy power plants to solve the problem.
Today's committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will acknowledge and approve an EEC waste management plan to support the expansion of plants and population.
The government's policy aims to solve the long-term waste problem because local people are concerned about the impact on the environment after implementation of the flagship EEC scheme.
One of the solutions is waste-to-energy power plants to make use of local waste.
Sonthaya Khunpleum, an adviser on political affairs to the prime minister, said the government is also worried about the waste problem in the three key provinces, as it forecasts that investment flows into EEC locations will coincide with massive waste output.
"Although the EEC scheme is the main engine to drive the country's economy, local people cannot avoid the waste problem aftermath, and they are much concerned," said Mr Sonthaya, a former tourism and sports minister.
He said the government will soon open bidding on new waste-to-energy power plants in Chon Buri, and the expectation is that local people will welcome the power plants without protest.
"The power plant can supply electricity for industrial factories and local households, so we are confident of this solution, but the government should not open a new location for waste landfill," Mr Sonthaya said.
He said Chon Buri has 29 waste landfills to serve waste generated by Pattaya and other districts.
Each day, the landfills treat 3,000 tonnes of waste from Pattaya City, a tourist hotspot that saw 13 million visitors in 2017.
"The waste from Chon Buri alone has enough to supply the power plants, and we forecast that new investors to the EEC scheme will increase waste output to supply the power plants as well," Mr Sonthaya said.