Problem overview:

     Policies and measures: Solid Waste Management Program in Phisanulok province of Thailand was initiated as a pilot programme for municipalities to manage their own waste in an efficient, systematic and above all, sustainable manner. This can be achieved through the strengthening of capabilities of city administrations.

Background:

     The Municipality of Phitsanulok has adopted a solid waste management programme to improve the municipal's waste management system. The programme assists the municipality to operate the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in an orderly manner and to elaborate strategies for waste recycling and reduction. Economic considerations and optimization of the services are the key audition factors to determine the effectives and sustainability of the programme.

     In addition, the success of the programme, which is in line with the Local Government Act, will help in the acceleration of the decentralization of decision-making processes to the local government units. This solid waste management project of Phitsanulok municipality serves as an example experience for other public services that could be provided by local government units (municipal/provincial).

Figure 1: Integrated solid waste management

Programme Objective

     The aim of the project is to enable the Municipality of Phitsanulok to operate an efficient and orderly solid waste management system. This is to be achieved through strengthening the capabilities of the city administration in the operation of local waste management. Collaboration with neighboring administrative districts, central government institutions and NGOs, along with appropriate supporting framework of the provincial administration are the key factors to determine the success of the programme execution.

Project Implementation

     The project started in February 1999. The initial period of the project was spent on obtaining and updating information, such as disposal behavior or existing regulations for waste management. Based on these information, a management strategy will be jointly elaborated by the municipality and community members. The presentation of this paper is to express the project outputs and results in a manner that other municipalities in Thailand can learn as a lesson to improve their solid waste management systems.

Expected Results

Result 1: A concept for an integrated solid waste management for the municipality is elaborated and approved

     The activities programmed to achieve the result 1 are:

• Elaborate solid waste management concept for Phitsanulok and selected surrounding administrative districts.
  
  
• Elaborate planning instruments for personnel deployment, collection vehicles and collection system.
  
  
• Identify cooperation possibilities with the private sector (waste collection. Transport and disposal site management)
  
  

Result 2: Improved planning and management instruments for communal solid waste management have been introduced to the responsible personnel

     The activities programmed to achieve Result 2 are:

• Organizational structure and administrative procedures in cooperation with other communities improved.
  
  
• Introduce cost covering tariff structure and improve fee collection.
  
  
• Elaborate and implement monitoring and evaluation system (management information system)
  
  
• Train personnel in the use of the instruments.
  
  

Result 3: Measures to improve collection, transport, recycling and orderly solid waste disposal are implemented in cooperation with other towns and sanitary districts

     The activities programmed to achieve the result 3 are:

• Optimise existing system for collection and transport of solid waste and increase number of served households.
  
  
• Execute pilot measures concerning recycling and reuse of solid waste (e.g. collection of materials, composting)
  
  
• Optimise the management of the sanitary landfill site.
  
  
• Identify specific solutions for the disposal of special waste (e.g. from hospitals)
  
  

Result 4: The population is actively involved in measures to avoid dumping, while increase recycling and collecting solid waste

• Elaborate concept for awareness and participation of the population considering generation and gender aspects.
  
  
• Select organizations and NGO for collaboration with respect to measures of hygiene education, waste avoidance, collection at source and reuse
  
  
• Execute measures with intense participation by the population.
  
  
• Implement measures concerning change of behavior in handling waste.
  
  

See also Community Based Solid Waste Management: Baromtrilokanat 21Community