Phitsanulok Faces Rubbish Crisis After Private Landfill Closes

[snoop1130]

 

Phitsanulok, 2nd September 2023 - Residents of Phitsanulok are grappling with a growing waste problem after a private landfill closure led to a halt in rubbish collection. The provincial governor has issued a directive urging local authorities to find immediate solutions.

 

Over the past week, rubbish has piled up along the canal road behind Naresuan University in Tha Pho, Mueang district. These heaps, left uncollected, emit a strong stench, causing significant distress for locals.

 

The issue began when the private landfill, previously handling the waste, shut down at the end of last month. While Phitsanulok Municipality continues daily pickups, other local entities have struggled.

 

The Tha Pho Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) announced it could no longer collect rubbish due to the landfill's closure. Consequently, large piles of waste started to accumulate, particularly near Naresuan University’s Gate 4. Residents, left with few alternatives, have taken to dumping rubbish in various locations, exacerbating the problem.

 

Local shop owner Kongkit Thakaew voiced his complaints, describing how the waste buildup near his motorcycle repair shop has forced him to hire private collectors.

 

 

 

 

“Since the SAO stopped collecting, rubbish has been piling up here. People come by on motorcycles, cars, and pickups to dump their waste. It’s never been collected, and the smell is unbearable,” explained Kongkit.

 

The dire situation prompted Phitsanulok’s Governor, Phusit Somchit, to clarify the landfill closure stems from the soon-to-expire contract on September 30. This expiration affects 32 local government organisations and Naresuan University, leaving them without a disposal site.

 

Governor Phusit stressed the need for households to separate waste into categories: wet, recyclable, and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), to reduce the disposal volume. He has called for an urgent meeting to explore new dumping sites or collective waste management solutions.

 

Despite slow progress on establishing a waste-to-energy plant, proposed by Hua Ro Subdistrict Municipality, private efforts to manage waste have emerged. Some businesses now purchase household waste for disposal, although illegal dumping persists.

 

In response, several SAOs have started implementing measures. Tha Pho SAO aims to resume weekly collections, Tha Thong SAO has begun daily pickups, and Bueng Phra SAO promotes source separation with collections on specific days.

 

The community remains hopeful that these steps will alleviate the mounting rubbish crisis, restoring cleanliness and reducing the foul odours plaguing residents.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-09-03

 

 

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[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The dire situation prompted Phitsanulok’s Governor, Phusit Somchit, to clarify the landfill closure stems from the soon-to-expire contract on September 30. This expiration affects 32 local government organisations and Naresuan University, leaving them without a disposal site.

City planning at it's best....