“Trash separation is a very difficult policy because people like to say that it is the responsibility of Bangkok. This work shows concrete efforts. The heart issue lies in the details of paying attention to how waste producers behave and Bangkok must adjust itself accordingly. It must be facilitated by clearly classifying the behavior of waste producers, setting targets, taking long-term action, and finding ways to expand to cover all districts. We thank everyone for coming together and believing that trash can be turned into gold and something valuable.”

Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, thanked the network partners and presented certificates to participating origins and advisory partners at “summarizing the results of the BKK Zero Waste project to further expand the waste separation campaign.” at the Bangkok Room, Irawat Phatthana Building, Bangkok 2, Din Daeng, today (5 April 2024)

Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thai Health Promotion Foundation) together with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (Bangkok), Chulalongkorn University, and network partners organized this event under the project to develop a pilot zone for sustainable waste management at source in Bangkok along with presenting certificates to agencies that Promote waste management at the source and encourage the reuse of resources in 84 locations.

Mr. Pornphrom Vikitsreth, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok and the first Chief Sustainability Officer of the BMA said about the progress of this project that Bangkok is focused on reducing waste from the beginning, separating it, and putting it to good use. Along with the campaign to encourage all sectors to participate in waste management at the source according to the model policy for concrete waste separation and reducing the number of food scraps that are discarded together with general waste. In 2023, Bangkok together with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and network partners will develop pilot projects in 3 districts: 1. Nong Khaem 2. Phaya Thai 3. Pathumwan. It is focused on encouraging establishments and citizens to separate food scraps from the source. In 2023, 2,805 sources were participating in the project 2023, separating a total of 22,140 tons of food scraps or 180 tons/day.

“In fiscal year 2024, BMA aims to reduce waste to 200 tons/day and increase it to 500 tons/day in 2025, and 1,000 tons/day in 2026. This year, participating agencies included 184 markets, which separated 76 tons of food waste/day, 457 educational institutions, which separated 19.4 tons/day of food waste, 114 department stores, which separated 23.3 tons/day of food waste, and 136 hotels, which separated 17.7 tons/day of food waste. In 2023 it was found that waste decreased from 2022 by an average of 204 tons/day or 74,460 tons/year or 141,474,000 baht. For the next phase, we must draw more people to join the project by using economic measures or taxes and fees, and must show that waste is separated.”