Solution to plastic waste lies in burning it for energy, says ministry

[webfact]

Solution to plastic waste lies in burning it for energy, says ministry

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

 

AUTHORITIES are leaning towards burning plastic waste and getting industry involved in choosing policies as they seek to improve the management system for the persistent pollutant that fouls both land and water environments.

 

 Meanwhile, an environmental expert said that changes to consumer behaviour are also needed to make real progress and reduce consumption.

 

With the problem of plastic waste being the theme of World Environment Day tomorrow, and problems with plastic waste and e-waste making almost daily local headlines, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has revealed plans to take a “life cycle” approach to address the problem. The ministry is calling for cooperation from plastic producers, other business sectors, consumers and official agencies. 

 

A sub-committee has been set up to tackle the chronic problems caused by plastic waste, says the permanent secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Wijarn Simachaya. He chairs the subcommittee, which aims to comprehensively solve problems through consultation and policy planning with all stakeholders.

 

“We have a goal to reduce plastic waste by adjusting policies and practices, from their beginning in the production line, then on to consumers’ hands and on to waste management at the end of the life cycle,” Wijarn said.

 

“After receiving a satisfactory outcome from the campaign to ban cap seals on bottled water the sub-committee on plastic waste reduction is now discussing the next policies needed to further encourage consumers to lower their consumption of plastic products such as straws, plastic bags and water bottles.”

 

He said the sub-committee had discussed various options, including collecting fees for plastic bags, banning plastic straws and encouraging the use of biodegradable plastic.

 

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is also working with its counterparts in other Asean countries to tackle plastic waste at a regional level, he added. This was pertinent, he said, because many countries in this region were among world’s largest producers of plastic waste and also generated a huge proportion of the plastic waste that ended up in the sea.

 

However, Pollution Control Department statistics from last year about Thailand’s garbage management identified leftover plastic waste as another major challenge in solving the country’s waste problem. Only 500,000 tonnes of the 2 million tonnes of overall plastic waste were recycled.

 

Wijarn has previously acknowledged the urgency of tackling leftover plastic waste, which together with litter will eventually end up in the sea and cause an even greater threat to the ocean ecosystems: marine plastic waste. Ocean-borne waste is particularly hard to tackle, he said. 

 

The ministry’s current approach to dealing with unrecycled plastic waste is to burn it to create energy in waste-to-energy plants. “For the solution of turning plastic waste into power, we are letting the private sector invest in waste-to-energy plant projects, with the cooperation of local administrative organisations, in order to allow local authorities to manage their own affairs on waste management,” he said.

 

That plan has been given the thumbs-up by m Buntoon Srethasirote, the director of the Good Governance for Social Development and the Environment Institute. He praised the ministry’s plans to take on plastic-waste management policies, saying they were heading in the right direction. However, Buntoon said, many things still had to be coordinated in order to ensure that the plans were properly implemented without themselves causing more problems.

 

“On the plan for collecting fees for plastic bags, I suggest that the authorities should put the money from that fee into an environmental fund and use the fund to finance plastic-waste management operations in order to ensure sustainability of the system,” he said.

 

He also urged the government to ensure that local people were included in genuine public participation and reaped the rewards of the construction of waste-to-energy plants in their locality. This would help to prevent conflict and opposition from local communities opposed to waste-to-energy projects.

 

Waste segregation was always the main obstacle to proper waste management in Thailand, said Buntoon, so he suggested both the general public and official agencies worked together to change their old habits.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346895

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-04

 

 

[scorecard]

"....Meanwhile, an environmental expert said that changes to consumer behaviour are also needed to make real progress and reduce consumption."

 

1.  How about legislation to make it totally illegal to use plastic bags in many scenarios.

 

2.  How about legislation to totally control the ingredients used to make plastic bags to ensure they do 'break-down' quickly in landfills, in whale stomachs, etc etc.

 

3. How about educating school kids about all of the above so ultimately society is well informed about this subject?

 

 

Edited June 3, 2018 by scorecard

[leeneeds]

I do not think burning is a good solution given plastics are made up of oil and gas,

dioxins given off from burning would enter the atmosphere. Some more work on efficiency of incinerators that capture by cataylic  converter systems these harmful gases, land fill at the moment is the best solution until real 100% efficiency of capture if burning is to take place, Plastics don't break down in land fill and so the carbon is locked in.

Heat generated from burning to use in power is also at best a 25% - 35% efficiency,

This problem is a world one, where attitudes need changing and governments need to quickly bring in taxes for plastic usage. 

As a kid rounding glass bottles to get money from recycling was a part time occupation ,

how as a smart society we went away from recycling I have never understood.

 

[ChrisY1]

It would take a monumental revolution to wean Thailand and the world off plastics...in particular, plastic bags.

This will not happen in the near future.

High temperature incinerators with emission controlling, probably is the simplest solution available in the short term.....but with such mountains of trash stockpiling everywhere, the logistics of management would simply fail.

Unfortunately, while these incinerators work well, in Thailand they will inevitably break fall into disrepair.

 

 

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

"....Meanwhile, an environmental expert said that changes to consumer behaviour are also needed to make real progress and reduce consumption."

 

1.  How about legislation to make it totally illegal to use plastic bags in many scenarios.

 

2.  How about legislation to totally control the ingredients used to make plastic bags to ensure they do 'break-down' quickly in landfills, in whale stomachs, etc etc.

 

3. How about educating school kids about all of the above so ultimately society is well informed about this subject?

 

 

Reads like you never heard the notorious answer to any proposed solution: "yeah, well, but this is Thailand- it won't work here."

[Cadbury]

11 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

It would take a monumental revolution to wean Thailand and the world off plastics...in particular, plastic bags.

This will not happen in the near future.

High temperature incinerators with emission controlling, probably is the simplest solution available in the short term.....but with such mountains of trash stockpiling everywhere, the logistics of management would simply fail.

Unfortunately, while these incinerators work well, in Thailand they will inevitably break fall into disrepair.

 

 

I expect these incinerators would need constant and serious maintenance. Maintenance costs money and too often that money gets siphoned out of the budget into administrative pockets. Look no further than Pattaya's sewage treatment plants.

What has happened to the Koh Samui incinerator? Hasn't that been out of action for 8 years or so?

[Emster23]

Clueless. Clearly didn't get his position on merit

[BuaBS]

What about recycling ? They do it in the west .

There are people in Thailand that collect plastic bottles ... and get paid per weight .

Burning of thin plastic like bags , wrappings is good if done well.

Recycling is the answer for bigger plastic from all kinds of bottles and packaging.

[Aupee]

10 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

Reads like you never heard the notorious answer to any proposed solution: "yeah, well, but this is Thailand- it won't work here."

I live in a vilage where the loca government does not collect the garbage, their collection area is just about 20 radius of the Amper town , being Nadi in Chanwat Prachinburi . Most of the moo bans are in the little area between the two National Parks, Khao yai and Thaplan as a consequence the local ditches and streams are used to dump household waste this is all dumped in plastic bags . So yes Like the current garbage collection I do believe that it won't work here. Any money provided to stop pollution will be siphoned, off for something else. Lip service only please we don' t want real answers, they will require effort. Sorry don' t like Thai bashing but some areas really need a clean up (no pun intended). Next time you pay double to go in a national park look at the areas just outside. I t may not be the ocean but it is a sea of waste 

[Cabradelmar]

Not a good idea 

[peperobi]

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

"....Meanwhile, an environmental expert said that changes to consumer behaviour are also needed to make real progress and reduce consumption."

 

1.  How about legislation to make it totally illegal to use plastic bags in many scenarios.

 

2.  How about legislation to totally control the ingredients used to make plastic bags to ensure they do 'break-down' quickly in landfills, in whale stomachs, etc etc.

 

3. How about educating school kids about all of the above so ultimately society is well informed about this subject?

 

 

I agree in all point 100%, to burning is not a solution, what about recycling?

[Krataiboy]

From what I've seen around my area, plastic already routinely gets burned along with any other rubbish that locals can't be bothered putting in a bin or taking to a dump.

 

Sometimes, even sitting in the house with the windows closed, the choking, acrid fumes from the chemicals released is almost unbearable.

Edited June 4, 2018 by Krataiboy

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, scorecard said:

"....Meanwhile, an environmental expert said that changes to consumer behaviour are also needed to make real progress and reduce consumption."

 

1.  How about legislation to make it totally illegal to use plastic bags in many scenarios.

 

2.  How about legislation to totally control the ingredients used to make plastic bags to ensure they do 'break-down' quickly in landfills, in whale stomachs, etc etc.

 

3. How about educating school kids about all of the above so ultimately society is well informed about this subject?

 

 

You mean - use an intelliget approach to the problem? 

No can do, impacts on the bottom line of the plastic manufacturers. 

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, Lupatria said:

Reads like you never heard the notorious answer to any proposed solution: "yeah, well, but this is Thailand- it won't work here."

Yeah, but it's true - it won't work. 

[connda]

Start with convenience stores who instruct their clerks to automatically give you a plastic bag and then place straws and plastic spoons in your bag without bothering to ask if you want them.  I hand them back; others probably toss them in the trash if they don't want them. 
My mantra in Thai is 'no bag, no straw, no spoon'.  I'm often handed them anyway and I just leave them on the counter.

[Darcula]

Brilliant idea. One 7-11 could power up a whole village for 3 years.

[connda]

5 minutes ago, Darcula said:

Brilliant idea. One 7-11 could power up a whole village for 3 years.

Exactly! 

[connda]

I always like those who blame the end user.  "You must limit your use of plastic!!!"

How about focusing on where plastic originates - the plastics industry.  Start with a mandate - consumer plastic must be biodegradable.  Period.  But!  That same plastics industry has lobbyists and money to influence the decisions of world leaders to not issue dictates to their industry.  "Blame the consumers instead - we have money to be made so don't target our business or no money for you!!!" 

So the consumer is blamed.  Silly.  Cut off the supply and consumers will adapt.  It will never happen.  The plastics and petro-chemical industries have too much power over those who pass laws.  So laws to curtail plastic manufacturers isn't going to happen.  Just lots of lip service and blame directed at end-user consumers.

Edited June 4, 2018 by connda

[newnative]

Big black eye in the press with that dead whale found off Thailand with 17 pounds of plastic bags in its stomach.  Hopefully, stories like this will finally spur some action.

[natway09]

Again, stop Thai bashing,, this is a world wide problem.

The second paragraph by the "environmental expert " sums it all up.\

We are not talking of the plastic disposed of properly ,,,, it is the idiots who are too lazy or inconsiderate to dispose of properly & just to throw it

[hotchilli]

The solutions to waste have been out there for decades.. however the incentive to put a hand deep into the pockets and fund it is lacking here in Thailand.

[GilesA]

Whilst it can be better to burn plastic if the energy created is captured than to landfill it, incinerators are highly toxic unless the temperature is maintained at very high temperatures. This requires rigorous monitoring, very high quality equipment and continuous maintenance. A very large number of such incinerators trialed in the west failed to maintain an adequate temperature to burn off the toxic concentrations created and had to be shut down or adapted to burn non plastic products or plastic products that were guaranteed not to be contaminated with food or moisture residues. Unless people first remove any food or moisture contamination and then separate plastics from other household waste it typically fails.

 

If however a careful regime is in place that ensures only untainted plastic is burnt it is probably a very good solution; especially in a country with limited renewable energy supplies.. 

[mok199]

thailands solution is burning it...

4 hours ago, connda said:

Start with convenience stores who instruct their clerks to automatically give you a plastic bag and then place straws and plastic spoons in your bag without bothering to ask if you want them.  I hand them back; others probably toss them in the trash if they don't want them. 
My mantra in Thai is 'no bag, no straw, no spoon'.  I'm often handed them anyway and I just leave them on the counter.

another huge problem is the street food vendor and their foam bowls and plastic bags....but it will never change and their in lies the issue...how much will Thailand give up to reduce plastics.answer = absolutely nothing...

[scorecard]

6 hours ago, newnative said:

Big black eye in the press with that dead whale found off Thailand with 17 pounds of plastic bags in its stomach.  Hopefully, stories like this will finally spur some action.

 

It was reported as 8 kg.

[newnative]

8 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

It was reported as 8 kg.

The story I read said 17 pounds, which equals 7.71kg.  Close enough for government work.  Too much however you measure it.

[tingtongtourist]

maybe the ministry thinking about some technology where they can burn plastic and create energy they then harness and use again.

lol

chkk-dee krap

 

nobody been able to do it yet, but since Thailand is the HUB of technology and innovation they sure to find a way.

[chainarong]

12 hours ago, leeneeds said:

I do not think burning is a good solution given plastics are made up of oil and gas,

dioxins given off from burning would enter the atmosphere. Some more work on efficiency of incinerators that capture by cataylic  converter systems these harmful gases, land fill at the moment is the best solution until real 100% efficiency of capture if burning is to take place, Plastics don't break down in land fill and so the carbon is locked in.

Heat generated from burning to use in power is also at best a 25% - 35% efficiency,

This problem is a world one, where attitudes need changing and governments need to quickly bring in taxes for plastic usage. 

As a kid rounding glass bottles to get money from recycling was a part time occupation ,

how as a smart society we went away from recycling I have never understood.

 

If you get caught burning plastic in a developed country you'd better be prepared to pay a massive fine, as you say there's a atmosphere out there thats got enough muck in it from China without Thailand helping, carcinogenic particals are cancerous and deadly.

[GilesA]

40 minutes ago, tingtongtourist said:

maybe the ministry thinking about some technology where they can burn plastic and create energy they then harness and use again.

lol

chkk-dee krap

 

nobody been able to do it yet, but since Thailand is the HUB of technology and innovation they sure to find a way.

They can. Many other countries do it already but it has complications. They can generate electricity from the burning but it needs to be done at very high temperatures to minimize pollution.

[retell]

19 hours ago, Aupee said:

I live in a vilage where the loca government does not collect the garbage, their collection area is just about 20 radius of the Amper town , being Nadi in Chanwat Prachinburi . Most of the moo bans are in the little area between the two National Parks, Khao yai and Thaplan as a consequence the local ditches and streams are used to dump household waste this is all dumped in plastic bags . So yes Like the current garbage collection I do believe that it won't work here. Any money provided to stop pollution will be siphoned, off for something else. Lip service only please we don' t want real answers, they will require effort. Sorry don' t like Thai bashing but some areas really need a clean up (no pun intended). Next time you pay double to go in a national park look at the areas just outside. I t may not be the ocean but it is a sea of waste 

usually it is up to the local community to decide if they want the garbage trucks to collect their garbage but usually they do not want to pay the 10 or 20 Thb. per month per house to do so 

[flyingtlger]

Ahhh...that's all we need, more polluted air!