Phuket municipal waste falls 9.38% in April as tourist numbers ease
Phuket’s municipal waste volume fell 9.38% in April from the previous month, with officials citing improved waste management and lower tourist numbers during the start of the low season.
Municipal waste in Phuket fell from 36,745.78 tonnes in March to 33,298.03 tonnes in April, a drop of 3,447.75 tonnes, or 9.38%, according to figures released by the Phuket Provincial Local Administration Office.
Patong Municipality remained the island’s biggest waste producer in April at 5,199.96 tonnes, followed by Phuket City Municipality at 4,566.19 tonnes and Ratsada Municipality at 2,681.25 tonnes.
Patong Mayor Lalita Maneesri said the decline was mainly the result of better waste management and source-separation measures, while lower tourist numbers during Phuket’s shift into the low season also contributed.
She said Patong Municipality was continuing campaigns with residents, businesses and local communities to cut waste at the source. The municipality has also introduced separate collection systems for organic waste, including dedicated garbage trucks.
Mayor Lalita said Patong already converts some organic waste into fertiliser for local residents and is preparing to expand the programme through the purchase of an organic waste processing machine. She said the procurement proposal had been approved by the municipal council and the machine was expected to arrive within two to three months.
She also said the municipality planned to encourage large hotels and businesses to install their own organic waste processing systems by offering reductions in waste collection fees.
Tourism data released this month by the Phuket Provincial Tourism and Sports Office showed Phuket received 4,901,975 visitors in the first four months of 2026, down 2.08% from 5,006,108 in the same period last year. Mayor Lalita said that decline had also played a part, adding that conflict in the Middle East had affected tourism sentiment in some markets.
Since the start of fiscal year 2026, Phuket’s waste disposal centre has processed 252,551 tonnes of municipal waste, averaging 1,191 tonnes a day. Of that total, 57% was handled through incineration and 43% through landfill burial, according to the report.
