Every Thai produces 1 kilo of waste daily

[EASYDOGG]

I believe Thais waste a little less than a kilo a kilo a day, considering the farangs waste much more than that.

But nobody can complaint.....we contribute to the Issan economy and also to the pilling up of rubbish.

I've just checked, the dear old Farang do waste more, maybe we can afford to in our home countries and we bring this here. 7-11 doesn't help in Thailand though, they shock me-you buy a small carton of juice and they go to give you a bag. Insane!

Edited November 15, 2014 by EASYDOGG

[atyclb]

without some stats fo0r per person waste from nearby countries and developed countries there is little or no perspective.

[ginjag]

When I purchase drink outside I always refuse to take straw and plastic bag. Forced my wife to buy bio degradable bags for her shop and finally stop her to throw garbage out of car.

To bad, I feel I'm the only one doing those things.

Below her sister's house backyard.

YOU sister in laws back yard.......................... it is pretty disgusting fairly typical, I would presume she does not stay there and is working full time.

If not, I could do this lovely in 4 hours and plant some flowers. My grandfathers pig pen was in better condition.

[CLW]

If the figures in this news is correct, the Thais are not producing that much waste (see below) . If you take 1kg/p.P x 365 days it's 365 kg per person per year.

I worry more about the way the handle the waste. And also one number from this news, 64% organic or food waste. That's ridiculous. Why they don't try to reduce and if not, just utilize the organic waste for compost or energy....

Sorry it's in german....

Kommunales Abfallaufkommen in Europa

Das jährliche kommunale Abfallaufkommen in einigen zumeist größeren europäischen Ländern belief sich 2011 in Kilogramm pro Person:^[4]

• Dänemark: 718
• Schweiz: 709^[5] bzw. 707^[6]
• Irland: 623
• Deutschland: 597
• Niederlande: 596
• Österreich: 552
• Italien: 535
• Spanien: 551
• Frankreich: 527
• Vereinigtes Königreich: 518
• Belgien: 464
• Schweden: 460
• Rumänien: 365
• Polen: 315

Außereuropäisches Abfallaufkommen in 2003

• Vereinigte Staaten: 760
• Japan: 410

[mok199]

thais just cant get the idea that ,you dont need to put every thing in a plastic bag,or a foam bowl...and yes many foreingers are just as bad...think locally act globaly...remember this phrase''mai tong sai tuhng''...some things can ''just be carried in you freekin hand already''....like the beer you buy at 7/11 and drink to drink at the beach.....

[Soutpeel]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Styrofoam.

How many 7/11 plastic bags does it take to make up 1kg ?, (or 2.2lbs for our metric illiterate colonial cousins)

This is your homework for this evening... alt=thumbsup.gif>

Closest answer get a hot date with "Gaylips" all expenses paid...

illiterate colonial counsins?

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he'd prefer the country to abandon the metric system, "I think I'd still go for pounds and ounces. Rather like we use miles and pints."

David Cameron is a moron, who I suspect was buggered one time to many in Public school and its mushed his brain...

I am no fan of the Garlic eating surrender monkeys, but its one of the few things they actually did right in coming up with the metric system.

Edited November 15, 2014 by Soutpeel

[snowyy73]

this is the way forward for all countries

http://www.herecomerenewables.org.uk/anaerobic-digestion/

[Cake Monster]

With the reports estimate of " organic, or food waste " running at 64% of the total waste, the sensible thing for the Government to do, would be to investigate the recycle of this waste to an organic fertilizer for the poor soil conditions in many regions.

Also power plants to run on this waste matter would bring BIG happiness to the people if power costs were reduced even slightly.

TIT

[maidee]

i tought there were 60 million thais ???

1 kg per person

???

thailand should start with promoting composting

[Tuskfish]

Today at 7/11 we bought two magnums and received them iside a red plastic icecream bag inside a plastic bag with 5 straws individually wrapped in plastic.... I've never eaten a magnum with a straw before but hey maybe I should be more open to new things???

The BIGGEST problem in Thailands waste system is the complete lack of corporate accountability. Tesco, Big C, 7/11 are not naive innocents when it comes to their massive impacts. These are foreign companies that come to Thailand and clearly make purely economical choices regardless of their environmental impacts.

When I first bought our 4 green bags from Tesco the cashier put them inside them inside one plastic bag each then got quite confused, possibly even offended, when I took them out.

I realise green bags aren't the perfect solution but they're are a whole lot better than other option that I have seen made largely available.

The only way to improve the situation here is to force the big guys to improve and then continue the flow on from there.

[55Jay]

I just went for a walk down the dirt country lane behind my house, and picked up at least 1kg of Styrofoam and some water bottles, which wasn't hard to carry because I found many useful, plastic bags to put it all in.

Makes you wonder what else they might of missed.

[dhream]

This story is a waste...

of time, space, bandwidth, and brian power.

&lt;deleted&gt; do they want? For people to stop 'existing'?

The problem is for the civic 'bosses' to solve, that's what they're bloody well paid for.

No average Thai should feel any need to apologise, do their 'bit' or otherwise give this rubbish a second thought!

[thaibeachlovers]

My wife certainly seems to produce a remarkable amount of garbage on a daily basis. Mainly plastic bags from shopping and food packaging/ waste.

Being environmentally concious, I produce less, but it's hard to not get a plastic bag with every purchase I make, though I try.

[thaibeachlovers]

When I purchase drink outside I always refuse to take straw and plastic bag. Forced my wife to buy bio degradable bags for her shop and finally stop her to throw garbage out of car.

To bad, I feel I'm the only one doing those things.

Below her sister's house backyard.

YOU sister in laws back yard.......................... it is pretty disgusting fairly typical, I would presume she does not stay there and is working full time.

If not, I could do this lovely in 4 hours and plant some flowers. My grandfathers pig pen was in better condition.

Fairly typical for a Thai area. They seem to think that if it's outside their door it's not their problem.

[NeverSure]

This needs to be put into perspective by comparing to waste generated by other countries.

For instance:

As a nation, Americans generate more waste than any other nation in the world with 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg) of municipal solid waste (MSW) per person per day, fifty five percent of which is contributed as residential garbage.^{[5] ( wikipedia)}

A high percentage of organic waste is a good thing.

It will decompose.

All the methane gas produced can and should be collected and used as fuel as it is in many land fills in the west.

I don't see 1 kilo per day of mostly organic waste as a real problem.

Let's play fair. You can't compare the US with Thailand. "Garbage" collection is done by private companies following EPA rules.

I have 4 garbage cans. Each holds 35 gallons. (142 liters.)

One is red. I can put only paper and cardboard in it which is recycled.

One is green. I can put only yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings in it. This is ground up, composted and sold.

One is blue. I can put only plastic in it which is recycled.

One is gray. I can put only kitchen garbage into it which is composted and spread out to "purify" before being buried in a huge plastic lined pit, to be covered with dirt when full.

Every week they pick up my gray garbage can.

Every other week they pick up all of my cans using a separate truck for each color of can.

In all cases that waste is run through a velocity separator which catches any "mistakes" the customers make, further sorting the material.

All of this costs me just $40 (1,300 baht) per month because the garbage company gets a lot of revenue from paper and plastic companies and from selling compost.

What other country is more organized? Thailand, 555?

[BSJ]

In the village where I live everything gets burned except glass bottles, most drink bottles, metals and cardboard which are sold to the recycle guy that comes around every 2 weeks.

So what's burnt disappears in smoke.....so, what waste problem?

[Haecksler]

The first topic related to environmental problems and have more than 1 Page of replies.

Amazing.

Every body can contribute to improvements (littering open combustion). Just keep complaining and deliver the right evidence in pictures and words in Thai language and be polite! Officials will act, I experienced it.

Waste in Thailand is going it's way ever since.

But only the “money making way” regardless of any impact.

Nobody want to change anything as every additional ton of garbage creates more money.

Innumerable waste management projects and demonstrations related to composting anaerobic digestion and other alternative waste treatment within the last decades weren’t successful because nobody really want them.

Organic waste is the highest content in the waste stream and western countries show since more than 30 years how to collect and treat it.

Waste management specialists are in the country in large numbers.

The Thai govt. just have to go ahead and doing something.

[55Jay]

This needs to be put into perspective by comparing to waste generated by other countries.

For instance:

As a nation, Americans generate more waste than any other nation in the world with 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg) of municipal solid waste (MSW) per person per day, fifty five percent of which is contributed as residential garbage.^{[5] ( wikipedia)}

A high percentage of organic waste is a good thing.

It will decompose.

All the methane gas produced can and should be collected and used as fuel as it is in many land fills in the west.

I don't see 1 kilo per day of mostly organic waste as a real problem.

Let's play fair. You can't compare the US with Thailand. "Garbage" collection is done by private companies following EPA rules.

I have 4 garbage cans. Each holds 35 gallons. (142 liters.)

One is red. I can put only paper and cardboard in it which is recycled.

One is green. I can put only yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings in it. This is ground up, composted and sold.

One is blue. I can put only plastic in it which is recycled.

One is gray. I can put only kitchen garbage into it which is composted and spread out to "purify" before being buried in a huge plastic lined pit, to be covered with dirt when full.

Every week they pick up my gray garbage can.

Every other week they pick up all of my cans using a separate truck for each color of can.

In all cases that waste is run through a velocity separator which catches any "mistakes" the customers make, further sorting the material.

All of this costs me just $40 (1,300 baht) per month because the garbage company gets a lot of revenue from paper and plastic companies and from selling compost.

What other country is more organized? Thailand, 555?

The poster considers a data pool of 300+ million people, massive economy, then uses MSW instead of total waste (as in the OP), and Wala Monsieur! Thailand's not so bad! LOL.

MSW include recyclables. USEPA reports 1.5lbs of p/p MSW, is recycled. That leaves about 3lb or 1.3kg p/p potential impact to landfill. Thais are still doing better than the Americans by .3. Or are they?

Could the Thai 1kg p/p/day figure be inaccurate? Waste collection is not universal, and not always done by government. Dumping and burning is still prevalent as is an overall lack of public bins, which creates more trash adrift on land and at sea/beaches, etc. A fuller representation of Thai waste generation might cause a revision to the 1kg/day figure.

To be fair, Thailand does have a robust recycling enterprise, just without the pretense found in the West. No environmental guilt trips by high minded tree huggers, taxes, or fines for non-compliance (yet). It's just another farming venue when you think about it. It's organized, yet there's no need to hand out color coded bins for idiots. No need for expensive velocity sorters when everything passes through at least 3 layers of screening by the Ninjas created by the State's recommended subsistence lifestyle.

No need for modern ideas and methods here, and that includes from silly farangs called Newton and Einstein.

[willyumiii]

This needs to be put into perspective by comparing to waste generated by other countries.

For instance:

As a nation, Americans generate more waste than any other nation in the world with 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg) of municipal solid waste (MSW) per person per day, fifty five percent of which is contributed as residential garbage.^{[5] ( wikipedia)}

A high percentage of organic waste is a good thing.

It will decompose.

All the methane gas produced can and should be collected and used as fuel as it is in many land fills in the west.

I don't see 1 kilo per day of mostly organic waste as a real problem.

Let's play fair. You can't compare the US with Thailand. "Garbage" collection is done by private companies following EPA rules.

I have 4 garbage cans. Each holds 35 gallons. (142 liters.)

One is red. I can put only paper and cardboard in it which is recycled.

One is green. I can put only yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings in it. This is ground up, composted and sold.

One is blue. I can put only plastic in it which is recycled.

One is gray. I can put only kitchen garbage into it which is composted and spread out to "purify" before being buried in a huge plastic lined pit, to be covered with dirt when full.

Every week they pick up my gray garbage can.

Every other week they pick up all of my cans using a separate truck for each color of can.

In all cases that waste is run through a velocity separator which catches any "mistakes" the customers make, further sorting the material.

All of this costs me just $40 (1,300 baht) per month because the garbage company gets a lot of revenue from paper and plastic companies and from selling compost.

What other country is more organized? Thailand, 555?

You are missing the point here my friend.

The topic is: How much waste is produced per person.

The amount of biodegradable, organic waste produced vs land fill ( some toxic) is an important factor too.

It is not about what happens to that waste after it is produced.

It is not about being able to afford to pay someone else to deal with the waste you generate.

It is not about what is done with the waste after it is produced.

Is it o.k. to be a glutton if you are wealthy enough to be wasteful?

It may feel like it is o.k., but that is only a illusion.

It is selfish and greedy.

The USA ( my country ) has about 5% of the world population, but it consumes over 25% of the world's resources.

Again, is it really o.k. to be an exploitative pig, just because you live in a country rich enough to get away with it?

Many in the USA are very conscientious and responsible about what they consume and the waste they produce.

But the selfish, greedy majority do a pretty good ob of canceling out their good efforts.

Back to the topic...Thais produce far less waste and the waste they produce is far less harmful to the environment.

I am not saying they would not be just as piggish as the US if they could afford to

[MexicanFarang]

"Toxic components inhaled through smoke from burning plastic materials may cause hormonal imbalance and sex behavioural orientation of your newborn baby. As a result, the child could begin exhibiting behaviour, in total contrast to his or her sex - changes from male to female sexual characters or vice versa."

THIS EXPLAINS A LOT, 555

[55Jay]

This needs to be put into perspective by comparing to waste generated by other countries.

For instance:

As a nation, Americans generate more waste than any other nation in the world with 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg) of municipal solid waste (MSW) per person per day, fifty five percent of which is contributed as residential garbage.^{[5] ( wikipedia)}

A high percentage of organic waste is a good thing.

It will decompose.

All the methane gas produced can and should be collected and used as fuel as it is in many land fills in the west.

I don't see 1 kilo per day of mostly organic waste as a real problem.

Let's play fair. You can't compare the US with Thailand. "Garbage" collection is done by private companies following EPA rules.

I have 4 garbage cans. Each holds 35 gallons. (142 liters.)

One is red. I can put only paper and cardboard in it which is recycled.

One is green. I can put only yard waste such as leaves and grass clippings in it. This is ground up, composted and sold.

One is blue. I can put only plastic in it which is recycled.

One is gray. I can put only kitchen garbage into it which is composted and spread out to "purify" before being buried in a huge plastic lined pit, to be covered with dirt when full.

Every week they pick up my gray garbage can.

Every other week they pick up all of my cans using a separate truck for each color of can.

In all cases that waste is run through a velocity separator which catches any "mistakes" the customers make, further sorting the material.

All of this costs me just $40 (1,300 baht) per month because the garbage company gets a lot of revenue from paper and plastic companies and from selling compost.

What other country is more organized? Thailand, 555?

You are missing the point here my friend.

The topic is: How much waste is produced per person.

The amount of biodegradable, organic waste produced vs land fill ( some toxic) is an important factor too.

It is not about what happens to that waste after it is produced.

It is not about being able to afford to pay someone else to deal with the waste you generate.

It is not about what is done with the waste after it is produced.

Is it o.k. to be a glutton if you are wealthy enough to be wasteful?

It may feel like it is o.k., but that is only a illusion.

It is selfish and greedy.

The USA ( my country ) has about 5% of the world population, but it consumes over 25% of the world's resources.

Again, is it really o.k. to be an exploitative pig, just because you live in a country rich enough to get away with it?

Many in the USA are very conscientious and responsible about what they consume and the waste they produce.

But the selfish, greedy majority do a pretty good ob of canceling out their good efforts.

Back to the topic...Thais produce far less waste and the waste they produce is far less harmful to the environment.

I am not saying they would not be just as piggish as the US if they could afford to

Indeed, the OP was about Thailand and its trash production, which is the rise. You also missed the point, that the article also addresses handling and disposal. It was you who veered off topic, pedaling down your own version of "Soi Perspective".

So after a second off topic rant about those trash making Americans, you want to get "back on topic" now. In doing so, still can't help showing your spots with a comparative reference, "Thais produce far less waste". Far less than who again? Oh, that's right, the Americans! Nice try.

Ok, so on handling and disposal, and environmental policy and international standards in general, here's another perspective:

Thailand can produce as much trash as it can, have millions of cars spewing out black filth, dump sewage into rivers, bays and ground water, blow up a few more chemical plants and possibly gas out Rayong, and still flick boogers at environmentalists. Why? Because they have the Poor/Developing Nation Get Out of Jail Pretty Much Free Card, and they know it. You probably know that too.

I'm not knocking Thailand, it is what it is. Neither am I superior about America - ha, hardly! However, save us the sanctimonious apologist B.S. about Thailand producing less and less harmful waste as the gluttonous pigs in America. As if to suggest this is result of some universal, conscious decision by all Thais because they are mindful stewards of the environment.

BTW, love your static signature line.

[kieran2698]

Thailand needs a system for separating waste. If food waste is mixed with other stuff then it makes it too disgusting for the recyclers to separate and the whole lot gets dumped. We need a composting system which pays the consumer as it does for plastic, metal and glass. This has been successfully done in some parts of India where the donator gets a token amount for their kitchen waste and the recyclers use this to make compost which they then sell to farmers.

[kieran2698]

"Toxic components inhaled through smoke from burning plastic materials may cause hormonal imbalance and sex behavioural orientation of your newborn baby. As a result, the child could begin exhibiting behaviour, in total contrast to his or her sex - changes from male to female sexual characters or vice versa."

THIS EXPLAINS A LOT, 555

Does it? I am yet to see a Thai burning plastic, it is worth money, they sell it.

[kieran2698]

In the village where I live everything gets burned except glass bottles, most drink bottles, metals and cardboard which are sold to the recycle guy that comes around every 2 weeks.

So what's burnt disappears in smoke.....so, what waste problem?

So the glass, plastic, metal and cardboard gets recycled. What are they left with to burn?

[kieran2698]

Incredible figures !

The report suggests that Thai's waste about 16,000,000 tons of food per year !

Seems a sad indictment on their society.

The UK throws away 18-20 million tons of food waste per year.

The US, an estimated 40% of food is wasted, about 80 million tons.

The EU over 100 million tons.

The developed world throw more food away than Africa produces.