Photo courtesy of ScandAsia

 

Bangkok is set to revolutionise its waste management system on 1st October, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) prepares to implement the No Mixed Waste initiative. This transformative programme aims to reshape how the city handles rubbish, with the ultimate goals of reducing costs, increasing recycling rates, and fostering a shift in public attitudes towards waste disposal.

 

The ambitious project was given the green light during the BMA’s ninth executive meeting, led by Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Reports from the Department of Environment revealed that over 239,000 households have already signed up for the initiative through the BKK Waste Pay platform, signalling strong interest and a collective commitment to change.

 

The campaign’s success can be attributed to its extensive digital outreach. Bangkok's districts have seen a surge in social media engagement, with Chatuchak leading at 38 million interactions over the past six months. This was closely followed by Khlong Toei and Pomprap Sattruphai, with nine million and six million engagements, respectively.

 

Three flagship campaigns have been particularly compelling: "This House Doesn’t Mix Waste" gained 947,904 engagements, "Bangkok Schools Have Changed" fostered 385,015 interactions, and "1 Million Trusts – Traffy Fondue" attracted 61,950 engagements. These efforts are pivotal in promoting the programme and nurturing a culture of sustainability throughout the city.

 

Despite the positive reception, there are concerns over the city’s ballooning public relations budget. The Bangkok Secretariat Office has tabled a proposal for 106.7 million baht for PR activities in the upcoming fiscal year. This marks a significant increase, contributing to a five-year total spending projection of 376 million baht.

 

City Councillor Napak Pengsuk raised questions during an August 1 meeting about whether the increased spending is an attempt to bolster public visibility ahead of the forthcoming governor election. The numbers indicate a steady rise from 63.5 million baht in 2022 to 129.9 million baht at its peak, before stabilising this year.

 

To encourage compliance, the BMA is introducing a new fee structure for waste disposal. Households generating less than 20 litres of waste daily will face a fee of 60 baht per month if they do not separate their rubbish. However, compliant households will enjoy a reduced fee of 20 baht per month.

 

Larger waste producers, including restaurants and shopping centres, will face tiered fees that can rise up to 8,000 baht per cubic metre, depending on the volume of waste generated. This tiered system is designed not only to encourage separation of waste but to hold larger waste producers accountable for their environmental impact.

 

Governor Chadchart emphasised that the programme is not merely about fee collection. “This is about building trust, changing behaviour, and making Bangkok cleaner and more sustainable,” said Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the governor’s sustainability adviser.

 

Ultimately, the No Mixed Waste initiative aims to forge a path towards a more sustainable Bangkok. By reshaping attitudes and practices within the city, the BMA hopes to create a cleaner and more environmentally responsible capital. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for other cities grappling with waste management challenges.

 

As the launch date approaches, the eyes of Bangkok’s residents and policymakers alike are fixed on the potential for this initiative to transform the city’s environmental landscape. The coming months will reveal the true impact of these ambitious reforms and whether the BMA’s vision of a sustainable future takes root in the hearts and habits of its citizens.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-05

 

 

Ambitious project??? Many countries are doing it already, some even decades... Thailand always walk far behind

27 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Ambitious project??? Many countries are doing it already, some even decades... Thailand always walk far behind

 

Well, at least some of the budget went to the items shown in the pic, as opposed to the usual luxury junk and off-shore bank accounts.  

 

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Ambitious project??? Many countries are doing it already, some even decades... Thailand always walk far behind

 

I’m not so sure Thailand does walk so far behind... I don't think what we see in the west is advanced... 

 

In the UK, refuse is collected only once every two weeks. We have five separate bins cluttering our homes and streets:

- Black – general rubbish

- Purple – recyclable plastics

- Green – garden waste

- A box for glass

- A box for cardboard and paper

 

On the surface, it sounds orderly, modern, even responsible. But drive through any city or town – especially in less affluent areas – and you’ll see the reality: bins everywhere, overflowing, ugly and visual and odorous blight.

 

 

What’s actually happened is that the public are now doing the job that binmen used to do. Sorting, separating, bagging. And while the council only comes every fortnight, rubbish piles up. Anything in the general waste bin – food scraps, leftovers – must be wrapped in plastic to stop it rotting and stinking.

 

The whole system is less less hygienic, and certainly not as “green” as it pretends to be.

 

Meanwhile, plenty of people sit at home on benefits, gaming all day, raising broods of children they can’t afford – while useful, necessary jobs like refuse collection are being stripped back. We’ve reached a point where actual services are shrinking, while unemployment remains high.

 

It’s not fashionable to say it, but IMO the West has taken a wrong turn here. Refuse collection used to be seen as a public service – a necessity. Now it’s treated as a luxury, an optional convenience, cut back to save money and shifted onto the public.

 

We’ve seen the same erosion of basic convenience elsewhere. Plastic bags, for instance. Shops insist we bring our own “bags for life” while they themselves throw away mountains of cardboard that could easily be offered to customers to carry shopping.... And all the while, almost everything on the shelves is still wrapped in plastic.

 

The consumer pays more, gets less, and is lectured about doing their part – while corporations and councils carry on as before.

 

This isn’t progress. It’s a burden disguised as virtue.

 

 

 

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) prepares to implement the No Mixed Waste initiative

Best of luck with that.

If it works, scavengers may be the prime beneficiaries.

Recyclable items(cans, bottles, plastics) sorted out, they no longer need to put their hands into the pile of filthy garbage.

 

Unless of course, usable wastes end up in the container locked up or administrative collection. 

So, more drains & klongs required. Will they be colour coded?