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

Institute Foundation (FPRI) made a research by considering the positive and negative
effects of the plastic bag taxation. Now, this taxation is not used or formally declared in
Thailand, but it is known by plastic bag producers and the relevant organizations. In
addition, this taxation also promotes the biodegradable plastic products instead of plastic
bags from petroleum materials, and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is the one
cooperation which affects the plastic package production. The biodegradable plastic
packages are promoted to use in the food industry. The biodegradable plastic products are
promoted as the alternative products when the plastic bag taxation is used for the plastic
waste management in Thailand.
3.6.2.3 Scenario 3: Increase in waste to energy option
According to Ministry of Energy plan (2012), the rate of energy recovery and the use of
alternative fuels will increase by 160 MW within 2021 from waste to energy e.g.,
anaerobic digestion, RDF production, waste incineration, and oil recovery from plastic
wastes (DEDE, 2013). This situation was taken as the Scenario 3, which explains how the
plastic waste flows will and accumulation will change if such waste to energy recovery
options are promoted.
3.6.3 Data analysis
3.6.3.1 Using MFA and Stakeholder analysis
In the material flow analysis, the amount of plastic flow were calculated and filled in the
STAN software. The new flows and processes were created and calculated in the material
flow of plastic depending on the details of each scenario. The stakeholders who play a role
on plastic waste management related to each scenario were analyzed and presented
combining with the material flow in order to present the important point/risk point of the
scenario. For example, the stakeholder at the manufacturing process includes PIT, PTIT,
PTIA, and TPFRIA, and this group of stakeholder may support and oppose the
law/policy/plan.
3.6.3.2 Comparison of each scenario
The primary and secondary data were used to explain deeply details of each scenario
before the comparisons. The analysis which was used to compare each scenario consists of
the financial analysis of scenario and evaluation of public awareness and opinions on each
of the proposed strategies for plastic waste management.
1. Financial analysis
The total costs of scenarios were considered and presented in this step. The costs include
the investment cost, operation and maintenance cost, revenue and profit, and taxes and
fees. The assessment of financial cost estimates total costs of all processes in the scenarios.
2. Evaluation of public awareness/opinion
This evaluation is the results of questionnaire responded by households, and interviews
with the relevant organizations. The acceptance of people on the scenario was presented as
a result, and their opinions on the plastic waste management were also described in the
next chapter.
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