Tips for recycling and reducing plastic use in Thailand

[wenshidi]

I'm still waiting for your solution on what Thailand can do about waste outside it's borders.

One area in which more democratic countries have succeeded is with internet enabled community projects such as Buy Nothing, Freecycle and Freegle. Authoritarian governments are often unwilling to allow such civil society developments, and yet the potential they have shown in developed countries is incredible. Maybe this would be easier to implement in Thailand?

[caller]

One area in which more democratic countries have succeeded is with internet enabled community projects such as Buy Nothing, Freecycle and Freegle. Authoritarian governments are often unwilling to allow such civil society developments, and yet the potential they have shown in developed countries is incredible. Maybe this would be easier to implement in Thailand?

Sadly. Thailand is also an authoritarian Country.

[buksida]

Renewed focus on plastic waste
Thailand is pushing ahead with projects to reduce plastic waste as it struggles to reduce sea pollution, especially after efforts slowed during the pandemic.

In 2018, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government initiated a policy to ban single-use plastic bags and began by asking retailers not to hand them out for free to shoppers from Jan 1, 2020.

Later that same year, Thailand was hit by the pandemic, prompting the authorities to implement work-from-home guidelines and lockdown measures. The spread of the virus was curtailed, but as people spent more time at home, they used food delivery services, driving demand for plastic bags and styrofoam containers.

Changes in daily lifestyles led to a 62% surge in plastic waste from 2.12 million tonnes in 2019 to 3.4 million tonnes in 2020, according to the Thailand Environment Institute.

Advocates hope if public and private sector efforts to deal with plastic waste gain momentum, they could pave the way for better management through recycling or reducing the use of plastic materials.

GROWING VOLUME
Effective solutions to the waste problem are needed as the volume continues to grow, piling more pressure on Thailand as it seeks to limit the pollution.

Last year, the total amount of plastic waste was 25.7 million tonnes, a rise of almost 3% from 24.9 million tonnes in 2021. Up to 28% of the waste was not properly disposed of, according to the Pollution Control Department.

Plastic waste is the major type of garbage that is poorly managed.

Some unwanted plastic items and materials are dumped in the sea, intensifying the problem in the country.

According to Thailand Development Research Institute, the nation dumped the 10th-largest amount of plastic waste in the sea in 2020.

Most of the marine waste is plastics, including bottles (14%), plastic debris (12%), styrofoam boxes (10%), food wrappers (8%), plastic bags (8%) and straws (5%).

PUBLIC-PRIVATE ALLIANCE
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) is a collaboration between state agencies and private sector companies that implemented the Smart Recycling Hub project to build a material recovery facility that aims to recycle 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste a year.

The facility focuses on plastic waste in Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Members of AEPW include the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the EEC Office, the Public Private Partnership for Sustainable Plastics and Waste Management, the Plastics Institute of Thailand, Dow Thailand Group, SCG Chemicals Plc and Insee Ecocycle, which specialises in turning industrial waste into renewable fuel.

"As a representative of Dow and AEPW, I believe we can create a successful circular economy as well as advance our communities and the world towards greater sustainability," said Jim Fitterling, chairman and chief executive of Dow and chairman of AEPW.

Both the government and business sectors have launched projects to deal with solid waste.

TISTR governor Chutima Eamchochawalit said the institute is piloting a project to separate waste for recycling in Saraburi and collaborating with Dow to run a similar project to promote better garbage management in Rayong.

She said the two projects can serve as a model for other provinces on how to earn money from waste disposal, such as sorting garbage for recycling.

The BMA is also dealing with waste, with City Hall working with the public to curb the growing amount of garbage in the capital.

Porn Vikitsreth, an advisor to Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, said the BMA launched a campaign to encourage people to adopt a new daily routine by separating household waste and dividing it into organic and dry waste for more appropriate disposal.

"This project is not only good for the environment, but it also helps city officials reduce waste management costs," he said.

LESS USAGE
Department stores and companies that make materials to replace plastic containers can work with the government to reduce the use of plastics by consumers.

The Pollution Control Department launched a three-year campaign dubbed "Everyday Say No to Plastic Bags" on Jan 1, 2020, urging businesses, including malls and convenience stores, to use fewer plastic bags.

Some 90 companies participating in the campaign reduced usage of up to 14.3 billion single-use plastic bags, or 81,531 tonnes, according to department chief Pinsak Suraswadi.

The department is working on the second phase of the plastic waste management scheme, running from 2023 to 2027, aiming to reduce the use of plastic containers for food and promoting alternative materials that are environmentally friendly.

The authorities set an ambitious goal to recycle 100% of used plastic materials, meaning there will be no plastic garbage sent to landfills, he said.

The department also wants to reduce plastic waste that may end up being discarded or thrown in the sea by 50%, said Mr Pinsak.

In the private sector, companies are developing plans to turn concern about plastic waste into new business opportunities.

SCG Packaging Plc (SCGP) earlier announced it is working on a project to turn eucalyptus into bioplastic in cooperation with US-based Origin Materials, which specialises in making carbon-negative materials.

Carbon-negative materials are used in processes aimed at manufacturing materials while avoiding carbon dioxide emissions.

The company has yet to decide what type of plastic containers will be developed if the biodegradable plastic project proves successful, but Wichan Jitpukdee, chief executive of SCGP, said the company is interested in making eucalyptus-derived plastic bags to contain hot food.

The company grows several thousand eucalyptus trees for its paper business.

ALL YOU CAN EAT

Biodegradable Packaging for Environment Co (BPE) focuses on eco-friendly materials.

The company produces food and beverage containers made from agricultural refuse.

When these containers are used and thrown in the garbage, they will decompose and can eventually be used as organic fertiliser for plants, according to physician-turned-businessman Weerachat Kittirattanapaiboon, chief executive of BPE.

He said the company developed new products in addition to plates and bowls during the pandemic, including food boxes, tiffin boxes, cups and straws, all of which are produced from biodegradable materials.

BPE also designed special packaging materials, including a fresh durian package that can contain the strong smell during transport, and a plate that can absorb cooking oil from deep-fried food, said Mr Weerachat.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... stic-waste

Its all very well and good for PR having these initiatives in Bangkok and shiny malls, but the real problem and vast majority of the plastic comes from the wet markets in the rural areas where there is no collection and it is burnt or strewn all over the countryside. The biodegradable packaging is a lot more expensive than plastic so local vendors are reluctant to use it.

[wenshidi]

I was wondering which drinks containers are most sought after by recyclers? I am guessing that it might be the type used for orange betagen rather than pepsi max? Does it make a lot of difference?

[PeteC]

Hermit crabs are 'wearing' our plastic rubbish

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68071695 (Photos)

Hermit crabs all over the world, which scavenge shells as armour for their bodies, are turning increasingly to plastic waste instead.

The conclusion is based on analysis of photos, taken by wildlife enthusiasts, and published online.

Scientists said they were "heartbroken" to see the extent to which the animals were living in our rubbish.

They said two-thirds of hermit crabs species were pictured in "artificial shells" - items that humans discarded.....

[PeteC]

Perhaps too low of a job for Thais? Most likely too clever of an idea for Thais?

Cambodia 'upcycler' turns tonnes of plastic bottles into brooms

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/27432 ... nto-brooms (Photos)

PHNOM PENH - In a small warehouse in Cambodia's capital, a group of workers sit and spin waste plastic bottles into strips, turning them into bristles for brooms, of which they churn out 500 each day.

For the past 11 months they have transformed around 40 tonnes of discarded plastic bottles, about 5,000 bottles per day, by "upcycling" them into brooms they say are more robust than regular brushes.

Those sell for 10,000 riel (US$2.50) and 15,000 riel ($3.75) each.............

[wenshidi]

Nice Find!

This would be even better if it could recycle the PET into 3D printable filament. The raw material would be very cheap, dollars per kilo. Miniature collectors regularly pay dollars per gram, which is a pretty decent mark up.

[deepee]

Isn't making recycled plastic brooms just kicking the can down the road so to speak.
As they wear down they will be releasing just more micro plastic particles into the environment.

[PeteC]

Isn't making recycled plastic brooms just kicking the can down the road so to speak.
As they wear down they will be releasing just more micro plastic particles into the environment.

Yeah, you can say that about any recycled plastic I guess. Eventually it will all end up as micro particles, unless it's incinerated at super high temperatures, or sent into space.

[dundrillin]

How can I recycle/dispose safely domestic batteries ie remote controls, hearing aid etc ?

[wenshidi]

How can I recycle/dispose safely domestic batteries ie remote controls, hearing aid etc ?

There was a battery bank at Market Village. Maybe a regular can confirm it still exists and its exact location?

[hhinner]

How can I recycle/dispose safely domestic batteries ie remote controls, hearing aid etc ?

There was a battery bank at Market Village. Maybe a regular can confirm it still exists and its exact location?

Used to be one at bluport (in the ground floor car park) but it wasn't there last week.

[dundrillin]

How can I recycle/dispose safely domestic batteries ie remote controls, hearing aid etc ?

There was a battery bank at Market Village. Maybe a regular can confirm it still exists and its exact location?

Thanks for that

[hhinner]

Just been to market village. The ground floor car park has a row of rubbish bins one of which is red topped and is marked for dangerous rubbish. It's next to the mall entrance nearest Lotus's. I dumped my batteries in that.

In fact, the tesaban has red bins around town which are ostensibly for dangerous waste but locals just put any rubbish in them (same as with other colour bins) so it all ends up mixed in the rubbish trucks and landfill anyway.

[PeteC]

Without having done much research, I'm a fan of putting shredded plastic into asphalt highways. I think Thailand has a few. I don't think they do it with concrete roadways, but I could be wrong.

Entomb and seal the stuff for decades and hope that the remnants stay sealed with the road pieces once the road is broken up and removed in the future. Even better would be if the road is simply resurfaced and the plastic gets compressed even deeper.