Chiang Rai Zero Waste Implementing a sufficient economy framework for sustainable lifestyle in rural Thai communities Manomaivibool, Panate1*; Srivichai, Mongkonkorn2; Unroj, Pattayaporn1; Dokmaingam, Pannipha1
Abstract
1 Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand * Corresponding Author:
[email protected] 2 Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Chiang Rai, Thailand
The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is a challenging task for developing countries. While it is clear that they lack resources to invest in hard infrastructures for the end stage of products’ lifecycle, soft infrastructures can be developed from rich social capitals. Chiang Rai Zero Waste is a participatory action research (PAR) powered by Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organization (CR PAO) to engage and transform the management of MSW in rural communities toward a sustainable course. The theory of change follows the King’s sufficient economy framework aiming to strengthen community resilience by utilizing local resources and building networks. Formative evaluation in 18 model villages confirms the effectiveness of three rules: making home compost; separating recyclables; and, cultivating organic garden. In-depth data from 450 households show that a local wisdom in the form of a bamboo cage called “sa-whieng” is a simple yet powerful tool in instigating the change. It enables households to handle organic waste the largest fraction of MSW in Thailand in their backyard, which in turn, lowering the contamination that once degraded the value of recyclables in the waste bins. The compost from sa-whieng also comes in handy for the organic garden. The action thus enhances the sufficiency of the communities by reducing expenditures and increasing revenues. There is however a remaining challenge in the handling of complex, hazardous waste which is beyond the capacity of rural communities. This local revolution must be paired with a national reform that requires more engagement of the upstream actors in products’ lifecycle as prescribed in the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in order to offer a complete solution. with CR PAO and its partners began at the end of 2015. After PAR signing the MoUs outlining the 3 conditions with the 18 villages in Feb 2016, a survey was conducted to monitor the progress and provide formative evaluation. In May 2016, we visited the villages and drew 25 samples from each. In total 450 households were interviewed and their waste management practices observed.
5,200 Focus groups
HH interviews
sa-whiengs
Based on the survey in May 2016: - The 18 villages had 2,996 households in total. - Each household had on average 1.74 sa-whiengs. - Each sa-whieng had an average capacity of 0.96 m3. - 4,112 m3 of organic matters was put in sa-whiengs. - The saved cost related to waste removal from this new NIMBY was estimated to be 1.03 M THB (assuming the unit cost of 250 THB/m3).
Zero Waste
Infrastructure
MoU signing between CR PAO, Ban Pha Lae, And Por SAO in Wiang Kaen District
1. Sa-whiengs for home composting 2. Soil conditioners to home garden 3. Separating recyclables at source % of households sorting Plastic drinking bottles 88%
Recyclables and containers
53%
Plastic bags
55%
Glass bottles
73%
Metal cans
30%
Carton boxes
38%
Paper
24%
Newspaper
13%
31 of the households per cent
Sa-whieng
18 villages with 18
said that they kept sorted saleable recyclables for community work such as a recycling bank, a funeral fund, or handicraft making projects.
Hazardous Waste
Sufficiency Economy
CR PAO has signed MoUs with 18 villages and their respective local governments to implement zero waste model for landfill diversion: - All villages followed the King’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to promote self-reliance in rural development - SEP practices consisted of integrative agriculture, household accounting, local products, cooperatives and collective welfares among the others. - A new NIMBY – now in my backyard – is added to SEP by turning organic waste into soil conditioners and recyclables into raw materials for village handicrafts. Handicrafts from secondary materials
Other plastic bottles
The challenge ahead
HW collection
While 84% of HHs started sorting HW, there was no safe disposal HW facility in Chiang Rai. CR PAO is going to run a project on HW collection in 2017. In addition, an EPR draft law for e-waste is now under the review.
Acknowledgement This work is sponsored by Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organization (CR PAO). The authors would like to express their gratitude to all key informants and households who participated in the survey. We would also like to thank Mr. Yutasat Norkaew, Ms. Podjanee Choiburi and the third year students in the Public Administration program, CRRU, who assisted in data collection. Researchers and survey team
