Bangkok: Mr. Chatchart Sittipunt, gubernatorial candidate number 9, has launched a transformative waste management campaign in Thonburi, emphasizing the conversion of waste into economic resources for communities. His plan promotes meticulous waste separation at the source, aiming to upgrade 1,000 community waste collection centers and reduce landfill use to 30%.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chatchart, along with his "Bangkok Works" team, campaigned across Nong Khaem, Bang Bon, and Thonburi districts. During his visit to the Sanguan Dam community, a model for waste separation, he highlighted the significant waste management challenges facing Bangkok, with the city generating nearly 10,000 tons of waste daily. Historically, 50% of this waste ended up in landfills. Mr. Chatchart emphasized the need to shift focus from merely collecting and disposing waste to separating it at the source, facilitating more recycling. Presently, about 1 million of Bangkok's 3 million households participate in waste separation, a figure the campaign hopes to increase. The policy involves expanding the "No Mixing" initiative, categorizing waste into five types, including a new category for "low-value recyclable waste," which can be processed to add value.
The initiative aims to transform waste into a community resource, involving residents in sorting waste to generate income. Chatchart expressed, "In the future, waste will be an important resource. We want communities to participate." The plan includes developing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to process low-value recyclable waste, reducing landfill dependency and creating local jobs. Additionally, a policy for waste collection in inaccessible areas will employ local people, alleviating the city's burden and creating employment opportunities.
Plans also involve upgrading waste collectors (saleng) into the official waste management system through training and registration. This move aims to integrate them into the city's waste management chain, reducing the waste burden on Bangkok. Another component involves creating "non-mixed waste volunteers," employing elderly and vulnerable groups to oversee waste points and monitor illegal dumping. This effort ties into the BKK Food Bank to manage and distribute food stocks to those in need.
To reassure the public about waste separation, Chatchart confirmed that garbage trucks have separate compartments for wet waste. Any issues with waste mixing by officials can be reported via Traffy Fondue.
The community waste management model from the Sangwan Kham community in Nong Khaem district will be expanded to 1,000 centers throughout Bangkok. This model involves comprehensive waste management, including organic waste, waste banks, and non-recyclable plastics. Mr. Pornprom Wikitseth, former environmental advisor to the Bangkok Governor, noted that this model significantly reduces waste sent to the BMA. Encouraging communities to manage their waste at the source could cut the waste sent to disposal plants by half.
The ultimate goal is to reduce landfill waste to 30% from the current 50%, a significant drop from the previous 70%. Different waste management routes will be established: recyclable waste will go to certified companies and MRFs, food waste will be composted, and general waste will be incinerated. Mr. Chatchart emphasized the need for an environmentally friendly waste disposal system, particularly in the On Nut area, which had odor issues from the composting plant. Plans include converting the system to a closed one and transforming the area into a green space.
For the Nong Khaem area, a vital part of Bangkok's waste disposal system, plans include adding a 1,000-ton incinerator to replace landfill capacity and establishing Bangkok's first Main Waste Recycling Facility. Mr. Chatchart noted improvements in the Nong Khaem waste plant, with odor filtration stacks reducing public discomfort.