Waste-to-Energy and RDF Measures Proposed to Address Phuket’s 1,000-Tonne Daily Rubbish Load
The measures were presented at the first 2026 meeting of the Phuket Provincial Waste and Refuse Management Committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam at 1:30pm on Wednesday (Apr 22) at Phuket City…
The Phuket Provincial Waste and Refuse Management Committee unveiled new waste reduction and disposal strategies at its first 2026 meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam at Phuket City Municipality Office. Officials reported that daily waste volumes in Phuket have surpassed 1,000 tonnes, prompting calls for urgent upgrades to disposal systems and landfill infrastructure.
2026 ‘Clean Province’ Plan and Local Initiatives
Central to the committee’s strategy is the 2026 ‘Clean Province’ Community Solid Waste Management Action Plan, which aligns with Interior Ministry policy and emphasizes the ‘3Rs’ principle—reduce, reuse, recycle. The plan aims to cut waste at the source and improve performance evaluation across local agencies.
Progress was reviewed on landfill rehabilitation at the Phuket Provincial Waste Disposal Center and a waste-to-energy project approved by the Ministry of Interior. The committee also approved appointing a working group to strengthen waste management at the source and considered a request from Wichit Municipality for an exemption from disposal fees for up to 15 tonnes per day, intended to support healthcare for affected residents.
RDF Measures and Emissions Reduction Verification
The committee discussed the adoption of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) measures, following a verification report under Thailand’s Voluntary Emission Reduction Program (T-VER). The report, prepared by the Management System Certification Institute (Thailand) Foundation, confirmed that a project by TPI Polene Power Public Company Limited in Saraburi reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 463,356 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
The verification team found that RDF production diverts waste from landfill, reducing methane emissions, and complies with T-VER standards. Phuket officials indicated that similar RDF approaches could support long-term waste management strategies.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/rdf-proposals-lead-phuket-push-to-tackle-daily-rubbish-load-100021.php
