The solid waste amount generated

According to the information of the solid waste amount generated in Thailand in 2021, it was 24.98 million tons or about 68,434 tons per day, with the incidence rate of solid waste compared to the population in the same year (Department of Provincial Administration) equal to the production of waste per person on average 1.03 per day.

As for this amount of solid waste, when examining only plastic waste, It was found that there were 2.76 million tons or 11% of the total amount of waste generated in this amount that was not reused, disposed of by landfills / incinerators / dumping on the floor about 2.13 million tons per and most plastics are single-use plastics such as hot bags, cooler bags, handle bags, plastic cups, plastic straws, foam boxes for food packaging, which are mostly disposed of as solid waste in an increasing amount and proportion. continuously

About 0.55 million tons of plastic waste is reused per year in the form of recycle and upcycle. In addition, plastic is left untreated and leaves an estimated 0.08 million tonnes of plastic waste in the environment per year, or 3% of total plastic waste.

Due to this arising problems that arise, the government prepares a plastic waste management action plan emphasizing the use of recyclable plastics, with the first goal last year (2022) to reduce - stop using 4 types of plastic: plastic bags with thin handles less than 36 microns thick, styrofoam food containers, plastic cups less than 100 microns thick and plastic straws.
The next goal in the same year, there must be sorting of 7 types of plastic waste, including plastic bags, all kinds of plastic water bottles, plastic cups, straws / cutlery, bottle caps, food box trays, and plastic film packaging, which must be recycled into the recycling system for 50%

As for the benefits that are expected to occur after the measure is to reduce 0.78 million tons of plastic to be disposed per year, worth 3,900 million baht per year, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.3 million tons carbon equivalent per year and save energy by 43.6 trillion BTU, reducing crude oil by 7.5 million barrels or about 30,000 million baht. 

However, Thai people and foreign tourists living, traveling, or doing business in Thailand can help reduce the amount of plastic waste that occurs such as choosing containers made from natural materials instead of styrofoam boxes and plastic bags, sorting and disposing of waste in bins or containers that are arranged properly. If bringing waste-causing items into tourist sites such as plastic bags, styrofoam boxes, bottles, cans, they should be returned as much as possible and reduce the amount of waste generated by reusing materials such as plates, bowls, spoons, glasses, etc.

Source: Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning
Tel: +66 2 265 6500