A Hybrid Law Model for the Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment: A Case of the New Draft Law in Thailand

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been high on the environmental policy agenda of many countries due to its rapidly increasing volume and concerns over its toxicity and the critical metals it holds. To date, 59 countries have passed laws for WEEE management (excluding State level legislation in the USA and Canada). Most of these laws are based on the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) but their treatment of allocation of responsibility and system operation differ considerably. This study reviews the implementation models of EPR which are classified into two broad groups: producer compliance schemes and governmental funds. The advantages and disadvantages of each model are analyzed and a synthesis proposed for Thailand in the form of a step-wise hybrid model, considering local conditions. A new draft law, the Act on the Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Other End-of-Life Products, differs from earlier drafts solely based on the governmental-fund model. Under the proposed system, producers of designated products would have an opportunity to develop their compliance plans individually or collectively. This would allow them to channel their experiences of working with EPR in other countries to the implementation of Thai WEEE management schemes. The compliance plans have to outline how they intend to support the free take-back obligations stipulated in the draft law. Collection targets can be added to improve system performance in the later years. Unlike a typical producer-led system, the government retains the power to levy product fees into the National Environmental Fund. This ensures the leverage in the case that the producer’s plans fail to function in a developing country context. Revenues would then be earmarked to support investments and campaigns to achieve the objectives of this law

The Challenge of Promoting Greater Use of Economic Instruments in Thailand: Lessons Learned from the Draft Act on Economic Instruments for Environmental Management

Current policies and plans geared toward green growth/green economy emphasize the greater use of economic instruments. This paper reviews the past and current application of economic instruments (EIs) in environmental management in Thailand. Insights gained from documentary research indicate that EIs such as product taxes through collection of excise taxes have been relatively effective, whilst user charges for solid waste and waste water treatment have been found to be unsuccessful in Thailand. Lessons learned from the draft Act on Economic Instruments for Environmental Management indicate several institutional constraints towards the extensive application of EIs. This paper provides some suggestions to overcome these challenges including institutional reforms, an appropriate mix of policy instruments, and proactive roles of academia in raising environmental awareness and knowledge of the relevant authorities and the general public which could increase political support for environmental policies and the use of EIs in particular

Assessing the Sustainability Level of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Bangkok, Thailand by Wasteaware Benchmarking Indicators

The rapid increase in waste volume leads to numerous and widespread impacts on sustainable development including social, economic and environmental dimensions. This study applied Wasteaware benchmarking, which is a set of international indicators, to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of municipal solid waste management in Bangkok. The indicators allow identification of strengths and weaknesses of the urban waste management system, providing evidence-based guidance for further improvement. Structured questionnaires were developed based on the indicators and its manual for in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The data were analyzed using wasteaware datasheet under Microsoft Excel with score coding, generating a clear and detailed overview of the performance of Bangkok’s municipal solid waste management system (MSW). The overall assessment demonstrated that all waste collected is disposed through official treatment facilities. However, the system’s effectiveness is constrained by ineffective enforcement of relevant regulations. Moreover, waste collection services were found to be not fully efficient. In terms of financing sustainability, improvements are needed to reduce disposal costs. Even if BMA prioritizes waste collection and disposal, it is equally important to promote the 3Rs and fully implement source separation to reduce waste volumes at source. In this regard BMA’s efforts to waste volume reduction targets have met with limited success, and the volume of waste generated in Bangkok continues to rise each year. To enhance the sustainability of MSW management, the outcome of this study could be used to support decision-making and further development, as well as provide inputs for future research

An Institutional Analysis of Climate Finance in Thailand

While the institutional infrastructure to coordinate climate change policy in Thailand already exists, previous studies have identified an important gap in this infrastructure. An institutional arrangement/coordinating mechanism is needed to oversee coordination of resource allocation and utilization among government agencies in order to achieve the national goal of a low carbon and resilient society. This paper reviews current policies and institutions related to climate change and recommends a new Sub-committee on Climate Finance be established under the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC). Alternatively, the existing sub-committee could be renamed as a Sub-committee on Climate Finance and Planning. Having a specific coordinating mechanism on climate finance would facilitate the government’s oversight of allocation of financial resources, tracking and monitoring of resource use, and also serve as a check point for resource allocation to prevent redundancy in terms of activities and allocated climate change funds. This institutional proposal may also be relevant and applicable to other developing countries facing similar challenges

Closing the loop or widening the gap? The unequal politics of Thailand's circular economy in addressing marine plastic pollution

10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136218JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION39

Perception and Behavioral Changes of Thai Youths Towards the Plastic Bag Charging Program

Thailand has one of the highest usage of plastic bags globally, with over 45,000 million plastic carrier bags used annually. Because of its high plastic consumption and mismanagement of plastic waste, Thailand was ranked sixth globally in terms of its contribution to marine plastic pollution in 2015. While many countries have introduced plastic bag charges or taxes to reduce consumption, the Thai government is reluctant to do likewise due to political concerns about whether the public will accept this. This study presents findings on perception and acceptance level of university students towards plastic bag charging program in their campuses. We investigated the factors influencing intention and behavior and changes in students’ attitude from 2017–2019. Results show that students’ reusable/cloth bags use behavior and charge acceptance have increased over time. Testing is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. We find that the factor which most influences consumers’ intention is perceived behavior control, which itself is determined by waste impact knowledge level and the perceived convenience of carrying reusable bag. In addition, the finding show that charging schemes are effective in breaking the habit of using plastic which will lead to a sustained change in behavior. Hence, policymakers should move implement plastic bag charging regulations in Thailand

Utilizing Wasteaware Benchmark Indicators to Improve Municipal Solid Waste Management in Northern Thailand

Primarily responsible for waste collection and disposal, local governments in northern Thailand face significant obstacles in managing waste. Mixing infectious, hazardous and general waste, over-utilizing incinerators and implementing environmentally improper disposal methods all contribute to burgeoning volumes of waste with adverse environmental and health impacts. The objectives of this study are to use the Wasteaware benchmark indicators (WABIs) to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of the waste management of Wiengthoeng Sub-district Municipality (WSM), to identify advantages and disadvantages of its system and offer fact-based recommendations for improvement. Pertinent data was obtained through interviews of governmental authorities, community members and private sector employees between October, 2020 and May, 2021 using designed questionnaires and through review of official governmental records. It was found that with the help of village leaders, increased public participation in MSWM and working with local governments resulted in more widespread involvement in the 3Rs practices. Economic measures facilitated the objectives. Assessing ‘pay-as-you-throw’ fees resulted in a focus on lowering household costs through waste separation and reduction. The financial benefits of the program were not significant, but the source waste required for final disposal was reduced. The findings suggest that to increase the sustainability of municipal solid waste management, source reduction and segregation should be promoted to minimize the volume of refuse sent to landfills. Source reduction and collaboration between residents and village leaders can provide more long-term benefits than positive short-term economic impacts. Moreover, to improve the sustainability of its physical assets, WSM must better address the environmental impact of waste treatment and disposal

The geopolitical economy of Thailand’s marine plasticpollution crisis

Currently approximately 9 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans annually. This is a majortransboundary problem on a global scale that threatens marine wildlife, coastal ecologies, human health andlivelihoods. Our concern in this paper is with the environmental governance of marine plastic pollution thatemanates from Thailand, the sixth biggest contributor globally. By zooming in on land-based polluters inThailand, we highlight both the systemic nature of the marine plastic problem and the relative impunity withwhich drivers of transboundary environmental harm function at all levels of governance. Drawing from 19 inter-views conducted with actors from the public, private and non-profit sectors, we examine three stages of theproblem: production, consumption and waste management. We found that three major barriers preventThailand’s government, private sector and citizens from engaging in the sort collective action needed to reducemarine plastic pollution. They are: (i) insufficient incentives to enact political change; (ii) scalar disconnects inwaste management; and (iii) inadequate public and private sector ownership over plastic waste reduction. Asthe state alone cannot change corporate and consumer behaviour, we argue that multi-stakeholder efforts acrossorganisational scales of governance and administrative boundaries are needed to address the barrier

A Systems Thinking Approach towards Single-Use Plastics Reduction in Food Delivery Business in Thailand

Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is largely influenced by dynamics in the market system. Hence, this study adopts the systems thinking approach as a tool to understand the non-linearity and complexity of sustainable practices. The food delivery business has accelerated the plastic waste problem, especially during COVID-19 where restaurant dine-in was limited. This study aims to identify high leverage points, which contribute to system intervention strategies to improve Thailand’s single-use plastics (SUP) waste situation caused by the food delivery sector. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant stakeholders (n = 14). A qualitative system dynamics model analysis and thematic analysis suggest that the key leverage points include (1) benefit alignment among all stakeholders, (2) cost minimization and profit maximization, (3) laws and regulations, (4) postconsumption waste management systems, and (5) research and development. In addition, to stimulate policy initiatives, this study suggests that system intervention strategies should include behavioral instruments (setting default and eco-labelling), market-based instruments (green-packaging procurement and subsidies), and system and infrastructure provision (waste management systems and deposit return models). Partnerships, research and development, and laws and regulations are proposed as supporting measures