Senate advisor ‘realises’ impacts of Phuket’s landfill crisis
The remark came during a recent visit by Senate Committee advisor Samran Sinthong and his delegation to Phuket City Municipality, where they inspected waste management operations and the increasingly strained landfill…
Senate Committee advisor Samran Sinthong acknowledged the severity of Phuket’s landfill crisis during an inspection of Saphan Hin’s waste management facilities on April 21. Touring the Community Solid Waste-to-Energy Plant (Plant 2), which processes up to 700 tonnes of waste daily, Mr Samran and his delegation reviewed the mounting challenges facing the island’s waste system.
Landfill Strain and Community Impacts
Local officials described the landfill as being in a “crisis” state, citing the increasing waste volume driven by tourism and economic activity. Residents have reported foul odours, visible rubbish piles, and the risk of wastewater contaminating nearby soil and water.
The delegation was briefed on these impacts, which have been longstanding concerns for communities bordering the landfill. Officials said these conditions underscore the urgency of intervention.
Proposed Measures and Senate Involvement
According to the official report, Mr Samran emphasised the need to maintain proper combustion standards at the waste-to-energy plant to control air pollution and manage residual waste effectively. He stated that the findings from the visit would be presented to relevant Senate agencies.
Proposed responses include expanding incineration capacity, identifying new landfill sites, promoting waste separation at the source, and tightening environmental controls. The report did not specify timelines or operational details for these initiatives.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/senate-advisor-realises-impacts-of-phuket-landfill-crisis-99972.php
