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

In 2011, major flooding in BMA region affected to many plastic factories resulting in the
reduction of production. The furniture and construction plastics were consumed more than
other kinds of plastic products to renovate flooded houses and buildings. In addition,
furniture and construction plastics were imported in large amount compared to the previous
years (OIE, 2011).
Moreover, the last flooding in 2011 also affected the automobile industry because the car
factories in industrial estate were damaged from this flooding. The plastic wastes from
industrial sector were disposed around 9.3 million tonnes in 2011 and 18.3 million tonnes
in 2012 respectively (DIW, 2013). Therefore, the plastic automobile part industry has
increased the plastic production capacity since 2012. Similarly, the electronic and electrical
industry consumed a lot of plastics to increase amount of new products.
4.1.2 Current situation of plastic wastes management in Thailand
4.1.2.1 Waste generation and plastic wastes in MSW
Thailand developed the municipal waste management (MSW) continuously since 1993
until the present. The solid waste management information has collected by PCD, and PCD
also provides policies/plans for the waste management of all areas in Thailand including
municipal wastes, hazardous wastes, infectious wastes, and recyclable wastes. The amount
of solid wastes has increased since 1993 until 2010 because there are an economic growth,
social expansion, tourism development, and population growth. Both of them effect on
production and packaging followed by the consumption. Most products and packages are
plastics, and 50% of packaging plastics become plastic wastes after use for one time (FPRI,
2011). Amount of municipal waste generation in Thailand was 15.16 million tons of solid
waste or 41,532 tons/day in 2010 out of which 17% of municipal waste generation was
plastic wastes. There was 1.83 tonnes of industrial plastic waste generation in 2010. Table
4.3 shows the amount of municipal waste generation in Thailand, 2003-2010.
Table 4.3 Amount of Waste Generation in Thailand, 2003-2010 (PCD, 2013)
Areas Waste generation rate (tonnes/day)
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
BMA 9,356 8,291 8,403 8,532 8,780 8,834 8,766
Puttaya city 12,500 12,635 12,912 13,600 14,915 16,368 16,620
Outside of
municipality
18,100 18,295 18,697 18,200 17,369 16,208 16,146
Total 39,956 39,221 40,012 40,332 41,064 41,410 41,532
Municipal solid wastes consist of food waste, plastics, papers, glasses, metals, rubbers,
woods, textiles, and others. Each type of wastes is divided into many types. For example,
plastic wastes are divided into 8 kinds such as HDPE, LDPE, PET, PVC, PP, PS,
thermosetting plastic, and other plastics. The percentage of composition of municipal solid
waste in Thailand is shown in Figure 4.6. The percentage of municipal solid waste
composition from the filed observation at Sai Mai transfer station is illustrated in Figure
4.7
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