Pathum Thani residents cry foul over waste plant

[webfact]

Residents cry foul over waste plant
Panor Chomphusri
The Nation

Petition likely to fall on deaf ears as prime minister Prayut tells locals to brace for more waste-to-energy facilities

BANGKOK: -- RESIDENTS of Pathum Thani province are trying to fight off a plan to construct a garbage power plant in their hometown by sending a petition to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha.

It remains unclear, though, what will happen when the petition hits the desk of the prime minister, |who is known to be enthusiastic about such power plants.

"We will fight to the end," the leader of the protest, acting Sub Lt Taweesak Inkwang, said yesterday.

Residents of Moo 4, Tambon Chiang Rak Yai, Sam Khok district, where the plant is to be built, fear the facility will have an adverse long-term effect on their lives and those of their children.

Taweesak said the locals held a meeting and resolved to submit a petition to Prayut.

The prime minister, however, recently pledged his full support for the building of garbage power plants in all provinces.

"Every province must have a waste-treatment plant and it's a great idea if such facilities are developed as waste-to-energy facilities," he said. He explained that because of human generated waste, such plants must exist anyway.

Prayut even warned residents there was no point in staging rallies against the plants.

Available records show Pathum Thani residents generated 1,826 tonnes of garbage each day in 2013.

Last month, the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between a local authority and a private firm to develop the garbage power plant in Pathum Thani took place amid a rally from local people.

Construction 'not approved'

Pathum Thani's industry chief, Ruangsak Kosakanchit, yesterday said although the MoU had already been signed, his office had not yet granted approval for the construction of the garbage power plant.

"Before we give the green light, we will have to consult the public first," he said. He added that during the public consultation forum that the private firm at the centre of the plan would provide information on the pros and cons of such facilities.

"If local people still oppose the plan then, we will have to explore available options," Ruangsak said.

Tambon Chiang Rak Yai Administrative Organisation's chairman, Sawek Prasertsuk, said the plan was in line with the policy of the National Council for Peace and Order, which was also headed by Prayut.

"We have already checked out a similar facility in Japan and found that it does not pollute the local environment," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Residents-cry-foul-over-waste-plant-30251919.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-15

[eliotness]

The NIMBY syndrome strikes again. If you don't want a solution to your waste, stop producing it.

However the amount of waste produced in Thailand needs to be addressed urgently, especially plastics. Energy from waste is like treating the symptoms of an illness whilst ignoring the cause.

[fvw53]

I am living in Pathum Thani, south of the planned waste incinerator and I hope prevailing winds will send the smoke in the Northern direction ( A.I.T. ?)

Indeed Dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) are not normally present in waste, but are formed when chlorine-containing organic substances (e.g. PVC) are burned at the same time...

Or do I really want to believe that a lot of money will be spent on very expensive exhaust filters?

[Estrada]

In my experience the protests tend to be led by people seeking a monetary incentive to let the project go ahead, usually led by the community head (Khamnam).

[eliotness]

Comparing the proposed plant to one in Japan shows a total lack of technical knowledge as the regulation on what is "waste for burning" in Japan is very strictly controlled, not so in Thailand. The excessive use of PVC instead of HDPE in Thailand is astounding, especially in the rural areas where a lot of garbage is simply burnt on the side of the road.

[h90]

The NIMBY syndrome strikes again. If you don't want a solution to your waste, stop producing it.

However the amount of waste produced in Thailand needs to be addressed urgently, especially plastics. Energy from waste is like treating the symptoms of an illness whilst ignoring the cause.

Well it would work if the Pathum Thani would only burn their own waste.

[xtrnuno41]

He should be more wiser and do more research in waste seperation and handling.

He should use technical schools, universities and what so ever to investigate for waste recycling and handling

Good to look aswell in other couintries for installations, but think further about what is coming free in waste.

Invest in waste separation,plant, certainly for the many PET bottles, They are recycleble.

Many of Thai people can also be working then, in separation.

You can shred the bottles and sell it. Or even start a plant in it, so you can reuse it in Thailand again.

Again more work possibilities for Thai and maybe aswell economic for Thailand aswell.

Metals can be taken out and won back. Sell it and or use it again. In electronics are many metal materials. Even gold.

Biological waste can be used to make fertilizer, start a plant in it.

Again 2 ways working profit, work for people and agriculture helping.

You can do so many things with waste and sure its an investment in the future.

You can combine such facilities together and make it that big for several provinces.

Then finally what you got left, you can burn in a powerplant for electricity.

And even the residu you can use to mix to make again other things, i believe it s used in concrete.

Lots possible but you have to investigate for it.

Ofcourse you can be short, just burn all and dump it into sea.

[hhinhh]

You can be lucky if you have a waste plant. In Hua Hin there are many such waste plants unorganized all around the city where people inflame the waste and create a lot of ugly and carcinogenic smoke. Not only natural products are burnt but also different types of plastic so residents are exposed to an unhealthy environment. The local authorities should interfere strictly and effectively. The present situation is inacceptable generally and especially for a city that hosts HM the king as well as thousands of tourists who are seeking recreation and not health hazards.

[eliotness]

A waste management campaign by the government would yield so many benefits. The international waste management community would be more than willing to help to set up such a programme. Anyone who loves Thailand would want to help improve the environment. The government could make it one of their "core values". There are other benefits to, health of the people, more work (technical & manual), better use of resources, less raw materials imported, better image for tourists etc etc. Good waste management is a win win, so please Mr PM launch a campaign that will unite the whole country to improve the handling and disposal of waste.

[Estrada]

He should be more wiser and do more research in waste seperation and handling.

He should use technical schools, universities and what so ever to investigate for waste recycling and handling

Good to look aswell in other couintries for installations, but think further about what is coming free in waste.

Invest in waste separation,plant, certainly for the many PET bottles, They are recycleble.

Many of Thai people can also be working then, in separation.

You can shred the bottles and sell it. Or even start a plant in it, so you can reuse it in Thailand again.

Again more work possibilities for Thai and maybe aswell economic for Thailand aswell.

Metals can be taken out and won back. Sell it and or use it again. In electronics are many metal materials. Even gold.

Biological waste can be used to make fertilizer, start a plant in it.

Again 2 ways working profit, work for people and agriculture helping.

You can do so many things with waste and sure its an investment in the future.

You can combine such facilities together and make it that big for several provinces.

Then finally what you got left, you can burn in a powerplant for electricity.

And even the residu you can use to mix to make again other things, i believe it s used in concrete.

Lots possible but you have to investigate for it.

Ofcourse you can be short, just burn all and dump it into sea.

The don't need any research. I was part of a team of consultants 18 years ago who wrote one of several Bangkok Solid Waste Master Plans and all this information is included in the plan. These Master Plans are available at the BMA and most university libraries and A.I.T. A complete recycling plant as described by you, was commissioned at Onnuch Waste Transfer Station 20years ago. This includes biowaste to compost which is sold as "Lesscost" fertiliser. The only problem is that the farmers do not want it because there is too much glass in it because Thais refuse to segregate rubbish(dry waste) from garbage(wet organic waste). So the Lesscost fertiliser is used by the BMA for parks and gardends. At Onnuch there is also a press which takes milk and fruit juice cartons and turns them into particle board for school furniture. There are also several waste to energy plants in operation running on municipal garbage.

[eliotness]

Those BKK waste master plans written 18 years ago could be easily updated - e.g. much more electronics in Thailand now. However it's vital to roll-out such plans nationwide.

[xtrnuno41]

He should be more wiser and do more research in waste seperation and handling.

He should use technical schools, universities and what so ever to investigate for waste recycling and handling

Good to look aswell in other couintries for installations, but think further about what is coming free in waste.

Invest in waste separation,plant, certainly for the many PET bottles, They are recycleble.

Many of Thai people can also be working then, in separation.

You can shred the bottles and sell it. Or even start a plant in it, so you can reuse it in Thailand again.

Again more work possibilities for Thai and maybe aswell economic for Thailand aswell.

Metals can be taken out and won back. Sell it and or use it again. In electronics are many metal materials. Even gold.

Biological waste can be used to make fertilizer, start a plant in it.

Again 2 ways working profit, work for people and agriculture helping.

You can do so many things with waste and sure its an investment in the future.

You can combine such facilities together and make it that big for several provinces.

Then finally what you got left, you can burn in a powerplant for electricity.

And even the residu you can use to mix to make again other things, i believe it s used in concrete.

Lots possible but you have to investigate for it.

Ofcourse you can be short, just burn all and dump it into sea.

The don't need any research. I was part of a team of consultants 18 years ago who wrote one of several Bangkok Solid Waste Master Plans and all this information is included in the plan. These Master Plans are available at the BMA and most university libraries and A.I.T. A complete recycling plant as described by you, was commissioned at Onnuch Waste Transfer Station 20years ago. This includes biowaste to compost which is sold as "Lesscost" fertiliser. The only problem is that the farmers do not want it because there is too much glass in it because Thais refuse to segregate rubbish(dry waste) from garbage(wet organic waste). So the Lesscost fertiliser is used by the BMA for parks and gardends. At Onnuch there is also a press which takes milk and fruit juice cartons and turns them into particle board for school furniture. There are also several waste to energy plants in operation running on municipal garbage.

20 years ago i was much younger and the world was different You can use the studies from that time. But technoligy is running fast nowadays and there are lots of innovations, aswell about waste. So you have to keep track of the innovations and apply them. I bet glas is to be seperated from the fertelizer. Not a real brilliant idea to use it in parks and gardens, as if they are public, people could get injured. Same reason why the Thai farmer don't want it. PET bottles werent there then or just upcoming, now its huge. You do see people gather those bottles to make some living. But most of the time it is the government not making it an issue to do it all right. It cost money they think and its way easier to burn and then ofcourse don't want to use a dioxine washer installation. Thats why the people are so afraid of that powerplant. It was discoverd already again long time ago that dioxine is real bad.

As i said from all electronics you can get so much material back. Iron, tin , coppre silver, gold and so on. There is a name for it "Urban MIning". Use Thai people to work in waste separation, its a win win. Pay them so they can live aswell.

But not only go by a report from 20 years ago. Be innovative and spend some money for that. Look in nowadays possibilities.

The the biggest issue is always money, government like to spend it otherwise, mostly for bs and expensive. So make money with the garbage!

. .