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

The amount of plastic waste for recycling in 2010 decreased compared to in 2005 because
this amount was estimated by the calculation through the assumed recycling rate (14%).
However, the actual amount of plastic waste for recycling which was reported by PCD was
506,780 tonnes in 2010 (PCD, 2010). The increase of plastic waste recycling in 2010
confirms the increase of recycling rate of plastic waste from 11% in 2005 to 14% in 2010.
The activities of stakeholders regarding to plastic waste management in Thailand consisted
of consumers, waste pickers, waste shops, recyclers, waste exporters, and policy maker. In
2005, there was not any plastic waste export, but 205,790 tonnes of plastic wastes was
exported in 2010. In 2008, there are 10,200 waste shops in Thailand (PCD, 2013). Waste
shops collect and sell their waste to recyclers, and they are the one important stakeholder to
increase the recycling rate of plastic wastes. They can collect 5 tonnes/month of plastic
waste (field observation, 2013).
In 2005, the environmental plan promoted to increase the recycling rate by 30% within
2011, but this goal was not successful because consumers did not concern on the
environmental problems and know any project and policy (Chanchampee, 2010).
Currently, the environmental plan in 2012 also promoted the 3Rs principle to increase in
recycling rate by 30% within 2016, and to reduce the waste generation per capita (less than
1 kg/capita/day) (MNRE, 2012). This plan may be successful if people concern and
participate to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic wastes. The networks of stakeholders help
to achieve the goals of policy because not only one stakeholder try to improve the best
practice on plastic waste management, but all relevant stakeholders also participate the
project.
The disposal methods for plastic wastes in 2005 included incineration and landfilling.
There was one incinerator to recovery energy from plastic wastes, and less than 0.2% of
plastic waste was burnt in the municipal incinerators. Two-third of plastic wastes was
disposed at landfill. Similarly 37% of municipal plastic wastes were disposed at landfill
sites in 2010. In 2010, industrial plastic wastes were usually burnt at the industrial
incineration or cement kiln, but only 2% of municipal plastic waste generation was burnt in
at the municipal incineration (PCD, 2010). Finally, uncollected wastes and improper
disposal wastes became the challenge for the improvement of plastic waste management in
Thailand.
4.3 Prediction of Plastic Waste Management in 2016
4.3.1 Plastic waste management scenarios
The plastic waste management scenarios were proposed to find the possible waste
management options. There are four proposed scenarios followed by the existing plans and
policies such as the National Environmental Quality Control Plan in 2012-2016 and the
alternative energy development plan in 2012-2021. The first scenario is the business as
usual (BAU) of plastic waste management in 2016. The second scenario was proposed to
increase in recycling rate by 30%, and the last scenario related to the increase of energy
recovery by incineration and oil recovery.
The first scenario related to the business as usual. The business as usual means that the
future view of current situation will be not change because everything will be done in the
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