IMPROVE RECYCLING RATES

IN THAILAND VIA BIN DESIGNS THAT

SUIT LOCAL BEHAVIOURS &

ENHANCED COLLECTION SYSTEMS

Currently the Thai government is in the process of passing a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Act (WEEE), which will be managed through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which has several departments:

• The Office of the Minister• Office of Permanent Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment• Pollution Control Department• Department of Marine and Coastal Resources• Department of Mineral Resources• Department of Water Resources• Department of Groundwater Resources• Department of Environmental Quality Promotion• National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department• Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning• Royal Forest Department• Zoological Park Organisation• Wastewater Management Authority• Botanical Garden Organization• Forest Industry Organisation• Thai Plywood Company Limited• Regional Management• 75 Provincial Offices for Natural Resources and Environment

This is a significant and positive step forward by the Thai government.

13

Strategy 1Technology Development & Best Available Practice

Strategy 2Capacity building & empowerment

Strategy 3Law enforcement & development

Strategy 4Financial & investment system

Strategy 5Management scheme & organization development

Integrated WEEE Strategic PlanIntegrated WEEE Strategic Plan

BUT!!

There is no government is the world that is able to implement any waste management policy without the assistance of a range of different organizations, including NGO’s, civil society groups, businesses and the most important segment –

Engaging the general population

Current Situation of WEEE Flow

EEEProducers

EEE Importers(new/used)

Export of EEE &WEEE

Distributors &Retail Shops

Consumers

Spare PartsShops

Dismantling &Recycling Facilities

EEE Repair Shops

ImproperlyDisposedWEEE

Waste Collectors& TraditionalDismantlers

(Tri-cyclers/ JunkShops)

Final DisposalFacilities

MaterialProducers

Improperdismantling

Proposed WEEE Management System

EEEProducers

EEE Importers(new/used)

Export of EEE & WEEE

Distributors &Retail Shops

Consumers

Spare PartsShops

Dismantling &Recycling Facilities

EEE Repair Shops

Waste collectors(Tri-cyclers/Junk

Shops)

Final DisposalFacilities

MaterialProducers

Buy-BackCenters

GovernmentFund

Fee CollectingAgencies

Buy-back partners

Financial flow

Product-waste flow

The Keep Thailand Beautiful Campaign is focused on two areas:

Proposed WEEE Management System

EEEProducers

EEE Importers(new/used)

Export of EEE & WEEE

Distributors &Retail Shops

Consumers

Spare PartsShops

Dismantling &Recycling Facilities

EEE Repair Shops

Waste collectors(Tri-cyclers/Junk

Shops)

Final DisposalFacilities

MaterialProducers

Buy-BackCenters

GovernmentFund

Fee CollectingAgencies

Buy-back partners

Financial flow

Product-waste flow

Although there is no reliable statistics available, it is estimated at least 80% of all recycling is collected via the informal sector (Sa Leng or scavengers).

On 17 August 2015, the Keep Thailand Beautiful campaign was launched at Suan Sunandha RajabhatUniversity (SSRU) within the Faculty of Industrial Design.

1. We believe that we can begin to engage consumers by designing and manufacturing a range of bins that suit the Thai urban landscape – already started.

2. We believe we can improve collection systems through service design. The Koln International School of Design has expressed strong interest to part take in this component to begin in 2nd half of 2016

The 3rd year design students from SSRU cannot begin their designs without research.

Yet this class cannot undertake all the research required.

We need post-graduate researchers to conduct and manage a series of questionnaires so that we know what designs are working and what is not working.

The questionnaires should also uncover a range of information about collection practices and preferences, and household behaviour in regards to recycling.