Evaluation of Plastic Waste Management in Thailand Using Material ...

3.2 Study Area
Seven provinces namely, Pathum Thani, Saraburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan,
Rayong, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Ratchsima and Bangkok were selected for this thesis.
Figure 3.2 shows seven selected provinces in Thailand. The characteristics of each selected
province are described as below:
- Pathum Thani Province: waste shops, recycling factories, and commercial zones
(department store, house estate, universities, etc.)
- Saraburi Province: cement factories and recycling machine company
- Prachuab Khiri Khan Province: tourist attraction, commercial zones, and municipal
oil recovery plant
- Rayong Province: waste shops, middle level dealers, and recycling factory
- Chachoengsao Province: oil recovery company (private sector)
- Nakhon Ratchasima Province: waste shops, middle level dealers, and recycling
factory
- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration: good practices on plastic waste
management and various characteristics of areas and organizations
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is the major area has been chosen for field
visits. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and largest urban area in Thailand. Case of
BMA is also important because there are large amounts of plastic waste generation and
properly waste management. This area consists of many important organizations which
play the role for plastic waste management like BMA office, PCD, TIPMSE, etc. Today,
Bangkok is not only the political, social, and economic center of Thailand, but plays a
leading role in trade, commerce, culture, art, education, health care, and transport aspects.
There are 50 districts in BMA. Four districts in BMA were selected for this study such as
Prawet, Din Daeng, Saimai, and Bang Phlat. These four districts were expanded across
different locations of Bangkok hence were provided a snapshot of overall of plastic waste
management in Bangkok. Figure 3.3 presents four selected districts in Bangkok. The
factors which are considered for making selection are following:
- Existence of solid waste management (transfer station, incinerator, etc.) e.g.,
Prawet and Sai Mai district
- Existence of waste recycling (recycling centers, waste banks, waste shops, material
recovery facilities) e.g., Prawet, Bang Phlat, and Sai Mai district
- Existence of economic activities (department stores, private enterprises,
commercial zones) e.g., Bang Phlat and Din Daeng district
- Existence of recycling industries (plastic manufactures, plastic waste recycling
factories, recycling factories) e.g., Prawet, Din Daeng, and Bang Phlat district
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