On March 9, 2023, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) by Pollution Control Department (PCD) together with government agencies, educational institutions, associations, private sectors that are large brand owners, and hazardous waste disposal companies announced their intentions on “Cooperation between public and private sectors in collection of municipal hazardous wastes” at the Saksit Tridej Meeting Room, Pollution Control Department.
According to the government policy that has continually focused on solving the problem of solid waste, H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, has assigned PCD to proactively manage municipal hazardous wastes in collaboration with nationwide affiliate network, to support municipal hazardous waste dump sites or drop off points for people to separate and dispose of hazardous waste properly and to have convenient disposal channels in accordance with the operational measures under the 2nd National Waste Management Action Plan (2022 – 2027) in order to reduce environmental and health impacts from mismanagement.
Mr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of PCD, revealed that in 2022, Thailand had approximately 600,000 tons of municipal hazardous waste. Only 13% of them were recycled and properly managed. The main problem was that people still do not separate the disposal of municipal hazardous waste from general waste and there was 7,778 drop off points for municipal hazardous waste, which were not covered or sufficient to facilitate people. The problem led to the intention to collect municipal hazardous waste today.
In 2023, PCD plans to expand the project to cover 77 provinces nationwide. PCD cooperates with all sectors, including government agencies, educational institutions, associations, private sectors that are large brand owners, and hazardous waste disposal companies, totaling 50 organizations, to set up 5,176 drop off points for municipal hazardous waste to pick up 4 types of waste: light bulbs, flashlights, chemical containers, and mobile phone and peripheral waste. Municipal hazardous waste is collected and sent to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and local government organizations for proper treatment or disposal.
This cooperation will bring public understanding, awareness, and attention to the dangers of municipal hazardous waste. Proper segregation of municipal hazardous waste means that more municipal hazardous waste is collected into the system and properly managed. In addition, this cooperation creates a network for joint management of municipal hazardous waste at the local and national levels, Mr. Pinsak said.
