Phuket:Phuket is currently grappling with a severe garbage crisis for the seventh time, leading the municipality to announce a temporary, indefinite suspension of garbage collection services.

According to Thai News Agency, the critical waste situation in Phuket has resulted from the volume of waste produced by 19 local administrative organizations and various agencies surpassing the capacity of the Phuket Provincial Integrated Waste Disposal Center. Consequently, the Phuket City Municipality is urgently working on improving the landfill area and is urging all sectors to reduce and separate waste at the source.

On November 8, 2026, Mr. Suphachok Laongphet, Mayor of Phuket City Municipality, along with Deputy Mayor Mr. Chalermporn Piyanarongroj and officials from the Waste Management and Sanitation Division, visited the waste disposal center to oversee the preparation of a new waste receiving area. The continuous increase in waste has resulted in approximately 1,200-1,300 tons being processed daily.

Mr. Suphachok highlighted that the waste disposal center is now at its 7th critical phase due to the excessive volume of waste for landfilling. In response, the municipality is hiring additional machinery to prepare the landfill area, leading to extended waiting times for garbage trucks over the past week.

This morning, several garbage trucks were observed dumping waste on the access road, blocking other trucks from entering the landfill. As a result, the municipality has temporarily suspended garbage collection to allow for site preparation and ensure that all involved parties understand the new procedures. Collection will resume once these preparations are completed.

The Mayor has called for cooperation from the public, government agencies, and the private sector to significantly reduce waste by managing and separating it at the source. Effective waste separation, particularly of organic waste from general waste, is crucial to reducing the amount of waste needing disposal and mitigating odor and environmental impact.

This ongoing situation underscores the challenges in managing waste in Phuket, which consistently produces high levels of refuse. Collaborative efforts from all sectors are essential to reduce waste from households and businesses, thereby relieving pressure on the waste disposal system in the long run.