Phuket seeks land for third waste disposal centre as second incinerator advances

Phuket officials have asked the Third Naval Area Command for permission to use an 82-rai site in Thalang for a third solid waste disposal centre as the island’s waste volumes continue to exceed existing treatment capacity.

The proposed site is in the Bang Khanun National Reserved Forest, covering areas of Thepkrasattri and Sakhu. The land is subject to usage rights held by the Royal Thai Navy, and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) request remains under consideration.

The proposal was discussed at a PPAO meeting on 7 October chaired by Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam. Officials also reviewed progress and problems affecting construction of Phuket’s second waste incinerator and discussed inter-agency cooperation to accelerate the project.

The second incinerator is expected to be completed in mid-2027 and add about 500 tonnes per day of disposal capacity. Figures presented by Phuket City Mayor Suppachoke Laongphet showed that Phuket produces about 1,400 tonnes of waste per day, while existing facilities can handle only around 700 tonnes.

Completion of the second incinerator would increase total disposal capacity to about 1,200 tonnes per day, but officials said this would still leave a projected shortfall. Suppachoke said continued urban expansion and tourism growth meant the second facility would not resolve Phuket’s longer-term waste problem, and that planning should account for expected volumes over the next three to five years.

Figures presented during a 6 October visit by representatives of Thanarak Asset Development Co Ltd (DAD) showed that waste entering Phuket’s main disposal system rose by an average of about 7% a year between 1998 and 2019. Volumes fell by 13.5% in 2020 and a further 27.1% in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, before increasing by 10.1% in 2022 and 30.4% in 2023 as tourism resumed.

The presentation cited a further increase of 12.4% in 2024 and projected growth of 15.5% in 2025.

Phuket’s waste management system includes waste-to-energy generation, with electricity produced by incineration facilities sold to the Provincial Electricity Authority under the Very Small Power Producer system. Officials also highlighted waste reduction, reuse and recycling, along with separating waste at its source.

Waste is classified into general, infectious, hazardous and organic streams. Environmental monitoring reports covering groundwater, air quality and odour, soil, public health and public participation must be submitted every six months under the relevant environmental requirements.