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

Table 4.5 Prices of Recycled Resins Classifying by Color (Field observation, 2013)
Color of recycled resins Prices of recycled resins (Baht/kg)
Green, light blue, red, yellow 25
Black 22-23
White 30-35
Clear 35-40
Feedstock recycling
Plastic wastes in covered landfill are dug and fed into pyrolysis reactor in order to produce
oil which can be sold to petroleum industries. This project is a catalytic pyrolysis to
convert plastic bags into crude oil. This technology was created by Poland, and India
bought this idea and produced pyrolysis machines for selling. Only HDPE, LDPE, and PP
are fed into this reactor. PVC is not used for this machine because PVC contributes
chloride when it is burnt, and then chloride will react and damage equipment. This system
requires many catalysts such as zeolite, alumino-silicate clay, natural clay, metal-loaded
catalyst and hydro-cracking catalyst to reduce a burning time and temperature required for
combustion. Finally, this pyrolysis plant required around 150 million Baht including
building, pyrolysis reactor, machine imported, controlling system, and workers. The
operational cost is 15 Baht/L, and the selling cost is 18 Baht/L. This crude oil from this
plant is sold to the Integrate Refinery Petrochemical Complex (IRPC Refinery) in Rayong
and Bangchak Petroleum Plc.
4.2 Material Flow Analysis of Plastics in Thailand
4.2.1 The material flow of plastic in Thailand
The material flow of plastics was quantified by considering the amounts of plastics in the
specific system boundary. The system boundary of plastic flow in this study was “Thailand
in 2010”. Most available data related to plastics and plastic wastes were presented in 2010.
Nine processes in the material flow of plastics were shown in Thailand boundary. The
import of system boundary means that the materials are inputted in the system boundary
such as plastic resins from the petrochemical industry, imported resins, imported products
and imported wastes from other countries. Otherwise, the export of system boundary
includes the exported products, exported wastes to other countries, and the products from
processes which are not studied and focused in this material flow. Finally, the stock of
system boundary means that the materials are being used or stored in the system boundary.
The material flow of plastics in Thailand in 2010 consisted of nine processes such as the
plastic manufacturing, plastic consumption, waste collection and transportation, municipal
incineration, industrial incineration, landfilling, recycling, plastic to oil, and open
environment. Figure 4.21 illustrates the material flow of plastics in Thailand, 2010. The
details of each process in the material flow are described as following:
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