Chiang Mai Residents Protest Landfill's Overwhelming Odour and Flies

[webfact]

 

Residents of several villages near a landfill in Chiang Mai's Choeng Doi sub-district have raised alarms over a persistent foul odour emanating from the site.

 

These locals, living within a kilometre radius of the landfill, report that the smell is so overpowering they are compelled to wear face masks nearly all day and keep their homes tightly shut to block the stench. Moreover, the area is plagued by swarms of flies drawn to the dump.

 

The landfill in Village 11 currently holds about 30,000 tonnes of waste, sourced from ten districts, and continues to receive an additional 400 tonnes daily. However, the garbage management facility operated by the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) can only manage a maximum disposal rate of 250 tonnes per day, reported Thai PBS.

 

In response to mounting complaints, Somchart Wattanakla, Vice Mayor of the Chiang Mai PAO, mentioned efforts to limit waste intake. "We have asked the garbage collection companies to restrict the daily trash dumped at the landfill to 300 tonnes," he stated.

 

Additionally, fire trucks and drones have been deployed to spray Effective Microorganisms (EM) onto the waste. This technique aims to increase beneficial soil microorganisms and suppress harmful ones.

 

To further tackle the issue, the Chiang Mai PAO plans to construct a high barrier to prevent the wind from spreading the odour to nearby villages. Recently, the Ministry of Interior approved a significant initiative: a garbage-fuelled power plant capable of processing around 650 tonnes of waste daily.

 

The project will separate recyclable and non-degradable trash uses. Recyclable waste will be turned into compost, while non-degradable trash will be burnt as fuel for the power plant.

 

This new infrastructure aims not only to mitigate the odour and fly problem but also to provide a more sustainable waste management solution for the region's growing garbage woes.

 

Picture courtesy: Thai PBS

 

-- 2024-08-06

 

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[VincentRJ]

"Recently, the Ministry of Interior approved a significant initiative: a garbage-fuelled power plant capable of processing around 650 tonnes of waste daily.
The project will separate recyclable and non-degradable trash uses. Recyclable waste will be turned into compost, while non-degradable trash will be burnt as fuel for the power plant.
This new infrastructure aims not only to mitigate the odour and fly problem but also to provide a more sustainable waste management solution for the region's growing garbage woes."

 

Good news! This process of disposing of garbage should be used everywhere and in every country. Not only will it solve the problem of foul odour and flies, but such 'garbage-fuelled' power plants will probably emit that wonderful, clear and odourless gas called CO2, which helps most plants thrive at increasing levels, and is essential for all life. What could be better. 

[ChrisY1]

There is one of these dumps just outside Cha Am....4 meters high of plastic bags and stinking rubbish....like something out of a 3rd world slum and people think it's normal!

Incidentally, sorting recyclables from truck loads of rubbish will never happen large scale.....pretty much, nothing will change.

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

These locals, living within a kilometre radius of the landfill, report that the smell is so overpowering they are compelled to wear face masks nearly all day and keep their homes tightly shut to block the stench. Moreover, the area is plagued by swarms of flies drawn to the dump

Just like how most things are done in Thailand, bury the issue.

[trainman34014]

New Power Plant 'approved'; now all that needs to be sorted is how much each Official is pocketing out of the Project before a sod is turned and once that's decided it will probably be at least another 5-10 years before the thing is working...if it works at all !

[cardinalblue]

Why can't they currently manage it as they do in the west? Its not that costly if they properly lined huge dug pits, remove as much recyclables/re-usable materials  as possible, and then cover the designated pile of trash. I can't re-call as they have height. exposed time and coverage inch requirements. I believe it is non-contaminated dirt...

 

CM does seem to have the land necessary but it involves knowledge, resources and competent planning/management..

[jcmj]

Great ideas but we all know that follow through is a rarity. 

[john donson]

avoid 1000 plastic water bottles per family, per year (3 per day), just sponsor RO filter systems 

 

I have very little trash everyday, but I cook my own food, not take out in plastic or styrofoam

 

veggie and fruit peals goes into the garden for composting