Bangkok has advanced efforts to tackle mounting urban waste by testing of the On Nut waste-to-energy plant, which is now 87% complete and has begun receiving waste for incinerator testing. The facility is designed to process 1,000 tonnes of waste per day and generate up to 30 megawatts of electricity. The move marks a shift away from landfill disposal towards energy recovery.

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On 20 March 2026, Deputy Bangkok Governor Chakkaphan Phewngam visited the construction site at the On Nut waste disposal centre in Prawet district to monitor progress. The inspection followed a previous visit on 11 March and included officials from the Environment Department, representatives from New Sky Energy (Bangkok) Co., Ltd., and other relevant agencies. The project is being built on a 30-rai site under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with the company responsible for investment and operations over a 20-year period.

Construction began on 19 February 2024 and is scheduled for full completion on 14 November 2026, spanning a total of 1,000 days. The plant will collect and store waste in a closed system for 3–5 days to reduce moisture content to around 35% before incineration. Waste will then be fed into a stoker-type furnace operating at temperatures between 850 and 1,100 degrees Celsius, with the resulting heat used to produce high-pressure steam to drive turbines and generate electricity.

Officials reported overall project progress at 88.13% against the plan and 87.75% in actual completion. Key works include machinery testing in the main building, installation of waste cranes, control room systems and initial heating tests for two incinerators. The weighing station has also undergone testing by the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Weights and Measures, and waste intake began on 20 March 2026 to prepare for system trials.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Amarin reported that The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has prioritised converting waste into energy to reduce reliance on landfill disposal. Authorities have instructed the Environment Department to continue close monitoring and regularly report progress, including any operational challenges. The project is expected to be completed within the contractual timeline in 2026.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 21 Mar 2026

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All they need now, is 1000 more waste to energy plants.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

All they need now, is 1000 more waste to energy plants.

How Mr 👎 ... you think 1 plant will make a dent in the waste problem at Krung Thep.

On a positive note, thay have more than I thought already. Only islands having are Phuket & Samui, 1 each, and when operational, can't handle the load. Let that sink in, as the trash dumped at sea ... apparently doesn't

Good start, but hope they have an effective emission cleaning system as burning plastic produces some unpleasant chemicals.

Plastic reduction at source would also be valuable. There was some progress with this after the turtle got a straw stuck up his nose, but COVID set everything back, so now we get three plastic bags, 6 spoons and 15 straws every time we visit 7-11.

Waste to energy plants provide power for many nations. It's good strategy for people who are addicted to waste. We separate our garbage but the guys still just toss it in the hopper. The important part is the scrubbers. BK gets enough pollution in burning season.

1 hour ago, Kinnock said:

Good start, but hope they have an effective emission cleaning system as burning plastic produces some unpleasant chemicals.

Plastic reduction at source would also be valuable. There was some progress with this after the turtle got a straw stuck up his nose, but COVID set everything back, so now we get three plastic bags, 6 spoons and 15 straws every time we visit 7-11.

Yep ... never seen so much plastic in my life, and as stated, even more during, after scamdemic. At least when burnt, it's a good fuel 🙄

Do prefer it over paper as an alternative, but still way too much. Paper is the least eco friendly alternative one can think of. Trees don't grow that fast, and paper has it's own issues, from production to disposal, and transport of, due to bulk & weight vs plastic.