How does waste separation work in Bangkok?

[webfact]

 

Chalanlak Chanwanpen, Thai PBS World

 

When walking along a street in Bangkok, many may have witnessed trash collection underway and some might wonder whether separation and sorting of waste really works.

 

The sight of unsorted trash piled up and collectors putting everything together in a large compartment at the back of the garbage truck might discourage some from self-sorting their waste.

 

The misleading and discouraging sight turns out, however, to be just one of the many steps in waste sorting by the collection staff.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/how-does-waste-separation-work-in-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-07-15

 

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[KhunLA]

To the title ... Apparent it does.   Even that which is separated, some, most ends up in the landfill or sea anyway.  That's a lot of energy or recycling going to waste.

[Crossy]

Madam already sorts out:-

• Aluminium cans
• Glass
• Paper / cardboard
• Occasional lead-acid batteries (I'm using far fewer now, lithium is my friend)

These go to family who can sell them for a few $$$

 

Veggie waste (including paper/cardboard that's got wet) - goes on the compost heap or into the chooks to be converted into eggs.

 

What's left goes out for the bin chaps.

 

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Madam already sorts out:-

• Aluminium cans
• Glass
• Paper / cardboard
• Occasional lead-acid batteries (I'm using far fewer now, lithium is my friend)

These go to family who can sell them for a few $$$

 

Veggie waste (including paper/cardboard that's got wet) - goes on the compost heap or into the chooks to be converted into eggs.

 

What's left goes out for the bin chaps.

 

We separate and save ours to give to the folks pushing the handcart down the soi, and rummaging through the bins for recyclables.   Use to sell it ourselves, but they don't give enough worth the bother anymore, to put in the car & drive to collection point.

 

Them folks need it more than us, and hopefully some of it actually is recycled.

[Crossy]

Yeah ^^^, we rarely see any "bin-rummagers" other than the bin chaps themselves, small village probably too far out of town for them to bother.

 

 

[KhunLA]

4 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Yeah ^^^, we rarely see any "bin-rummagers" other than the bin chaps themselves, small village probably too far out of town for them to bother.

This week, next week, we're out of our 'metro' rental.  Just waiting on PEA to install meter on pole.   Don't think we'll see many out were we'll be.  Haven't even notice bins out there, and definitely not one near out house to use.  If they put one down at the end of our soi, I'm not walking 150 m to deposit our trash.   Burn baby burn, what little we actually have, as most goes to compost.

 

Put the plastics/metal at the end of the soi, as surely someone will pick them up.

[Gold Star]

From my experience, our trash goes through quite a thorough inspection, sorting, and handling procedure after the waste is transported and dumped in the jungle away from the village.

 

The glass, metal, and large plastic is all picked through to get recycled, and any delivery slips, bank statements, and personal information are taken and used by the army of scammers to send illegal packages on your behalf, and to try to get at your money or property.

 

The rest is set on fire which smoulders for days in a toxic putrid plume.

[NativeBob]

some really ugly people come and "buy" scrap and plastic. However their scales are "fixed" to show 1 lt of bottle w/water weights only 200gr. Crooks? Nope - street smart businessmen ) 

as the OP: yes. they do separate waste in BKK, pls don't put Thailand too low, even if your name is Chalanlak and your parents sent you abroad.

[ikke1959]

simple answer ; NOT..... try to find a bin somewhere to start with

[RichardColeman]

5 hours ago, Crossy said:

Madam already sorts out:-

• Aluminium cans
• Glass
• Paper / cardboard
• Occasional lead-acid batteries (I'm using far fewer now, lithium is my friend)

These go to family who can sell them for a few $$$

 

Veggie waste (including paper/cardboard that's got wet) - goes on the compost heap or into the chooks to be converted into eggs.

 

What's left goes out for the bin chaps.

 

we got 400 baht odd last week for out recycle stuff too - sad seeing so many people being lazy to save money. Got to the point now where the wife is taking boxes daily from Tops !

[PETERTHEEATER]

How does waste separation work in Bangkok?

Open the moving car window and throw your waste out. It is now separated from your environment.....

[unblocktheplanet]

Plastics get B3/kg, paper B8.

[stoner]

from what i see thai just throw garbage wherever. daily this place is becoming more and more like an open air dump. quite sad as it reflects the local population. even worse is they don't care.

 

oh ya and over 90 percent of plastics have never been recycled so there's that.