Garbage a mounting problem
Efforts to recycle make only limited progress as new bill awaits approval
With growing amounts of garbage piling up day by day from the use of packaging, state and private-sector initiatives have been adopted in an effort to tackle this environmental problem.
However, little progress has been seen so far.
Among the initiatives are the drafting of a new law by the Pollution Control Department (PCD), called the Packaging Management Bill, which is languishing in the process for approval.
Moves by the private sector are showing better progress with the manufacture of 100-per-cent recyclable packaging and expansion of recycling facilities.
Garbage from packaging is a serious environmental problem for Thailand, according to the PCD, a core authority in charge of waste management. Each year, around 14 million tonnes of garbage are produced from all sectors - close to 40,000 tonnes per day.
Most of the garbage is treated improperly by open dump sites and cause environmental problems, including contamination of underground water. Some are treated better, as landfill, but there is a shortage of landfill sites due to opposition from nearby residents who like the idea in principle, but do not want to see it in their neighbourhoods.
Recycling is therefore emerging as a key measure to manage the waste properly, at a lower cost and with higher efficiency in the use of natural resources. The measure is supported by PCD and is promoted as a crucial strategy in the new packaging bill.
"For the first time, the bill will create measures to tackle the management of waste from packaging through the process of design, manufacturing, garbage separation, then its collection and transport for treatment. Thus, it will involve product designers, packaging manufacturers, municipalities and local organisations, treatment operators and consumers. Financial incentives are also included as a tool," a senior PCD officer explained.
"The law is already drafted and on the way to seek approval for implementation," the officer said.
About 20 per cent of all kinds of waste were recycled according to the most recent survey, in 2004. However,
those recycling efforts were done without the involvement of the state and were driven by small recycling factories. Most of the waste was glass, metal and paper due to their high potential for recycling.
During the years of waiting for the new law, private sector initiatives have become more active in recycling packaging.
Private initiatives include the switch to recycling plastic bags by several major supermarket chains as well as their campaigns to reuse the bags. One major instant-noodle manufacturer recently switched to paper-based noodle cup packaging with a big television advertising campaign to raise awareness about packaging amongst the public.
One of the biggest moves is from a major packaging manufacturer, Tetra Pak (Thai), which is the largest packaging producer for drinks such as milk, juice, tea and coffee in Thailand. Apart from launching its 100-per-cent recyclable products to all its clients, it had kicked off several campaigns to promote recycling among the public.
"We try to be environmentally friendly, not only with our products but with all processes involved. For the products we use 'aseptic' technology which preserves drinks at room temperature for some months. The packages are all made from recyclable materials. Waste from factories using our packages is sent to recycling facilities," The company's communications director Gloyta Nathalang said.
To encourage recycling practices, the company also launched a campaign among students in Bangkok and Samut Prakan as well as at another 12 schools upcountry to collect milk packages for recycling factories. It has also joined the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in separating garbage at 43 hypermarkets around Bangkok.
"We are aware that there many obstacles remain that make implementation of recycling difficult, so we decided to organise activities to encourage all parties involved to recycle, especially milk packaging," Tapanee Junhom, communications and public affairs manager, said. The activities include encouraging two recycling factories to experiment with recycling milk packages, she added.
"We follow the global Tetra Pak policy that aims to cut 25 per cent of carbon-dioxide emissions from our business between 2004 and 2008. It is our way to show full responsibility for our products and our activities," Gloyta added.
However, Gloyta admitted that current recycling practices in Thailand only separate waste into paper and polyethylene plastic while some components of packaging include aluminium. The company is now experimenting with new technology that could separate all three materials. After tests in Brazil it might expand to Thailand in the future.
Even though Tetra Pak's environmental policy has received praise from the public it has also been criticised by environmentalists for promoting its packages, one major cause of serious environmental problems.
"Even though it is environmentally friendly packaging, don't forget that the package itself is an environmental destroyer. The better way is to promote proper use of packaging, not to promote the use of packaging without limits," one environmentalist said.
Another growing activity of the private sector is factories for recycling. Trivichak Yibyintham, a managing director of Fiber Pat, said the recycling business is now growing after years of public campaigns in favour of the idea.
"A major problem is the lack of raw material - recyclable garbage. The poor separation of garbage leaves us short of supply for full operations," he said.
However, with the encouragement of Tetra Pak (Thai), which has agreed to supply all waste from its 35 clients to his factory in order to promote its milk-packaging recycling, Trivichak said his business is expanding to new sites with bigger capacity, from 4,000 tonnes per year to 12,000 tonnes per year installed capacity.
"Recycling factories in Thailand have never received any support from the state. We are left to survive alone just like general businesses. If the government would like to promote recycling, it should consider providing help to us," he said.
the Nation Oct. 21, 2007