BANGKOK, 10 August 2015 – The Pollution Control Department (PCD) will adjust the national waste management strategy with a budget of 170 billion baht, while looking to push forward new legislations, according to a PCD official.
The PCD’s Acting Director-General Wijarn Simachaya has revealed that opinions regarding the national waste management strategy for 2016-2021 has been gathered from all sides, for the ministry re-strategize into a more inclusive program under a 6 year period. The strategy will have a budget of 178.6 billion baht, 94.6 billion coming from the government budget, while another 64.9 billion will come from the private sector’s investment.
The strategy, under a long-term execution framework, has been submitted for the Cabinet’s approval, while the PCD is now gearing up the legislation of a national garbage law.
The PCD Acting Director-General said that last year’s garbage model scheme successfully reduced the amount of garbage by 50 percent, in crisis areas including Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Lopburi, Nakhon Pathom, and Ayutthaya province. However, regarding the construction of waste energy power plants, the Director-General said that the project can only go ahead authorities create an understanding among the public residing in the areas.
The PCD, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Energy are set to pilot the waste energy production plan in 14 provinces, including Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, and Chiang Mai. The project aims to produce fuel from waste, while the construction of the waste treatment plant must be approved by the local public.
An individual Thai national produces 1.11 kilogram of garbage per day on average. Electronic appliances, such as televisions and tablets, are a concerning category of garbage. Out of 4.23 million devices, 580,000 tons of electronic garbage will require disposal after usage.
