Management of hazardous waste in Thailand: present situation and future prospects |
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| Authors: | H Ozaki K Sharma C Phanuwan K Fukushi C Polprasert |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Civil Engineering, Osaka Sangyo University, 3-1-1 Nakagaito, Daito, Osaka 574-8530, Japan Tel. +81-72-875-3001 (ext. 3718); Fax +81-72-875-5044 e-mail: ozaki@ce.osaka-sandai.ac.jp, JP;(2) Environmental Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, JP;(3) Urban Environmental Engineering and Management Program, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand, TH |
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| Abstract: | This paper deals with the present scenario of hazardous waste management practices in Thailand, and gives some insights into
future prospects. Industrialization in Thailand has systematically increased the generation of hazardous waste. The total
hazardous waste generated in 2001 was 1.65 million tons. It is estimated that over 300 million kg/year of hazardous waste
is generated from nonindustrial, community sources (e.g., batteries, fluorescent lamps, cleansing chemicals, pesticides).
No special facilities are available for handling these wastes. There are neither well-established systems for separation,
storage, collection, and transportation, nor the effective enforcement of regulations related to hazardous wastes management
generated from industrial or nonindustrial sectors. Therefore, because of a lack of treatment and disposal facilities, these
wastes find their way into municipal wastewaters, public landfills, nearby dump sites, or waterways, raising serious environmental
concern. Furthermore, Thailand does not have an integrated regulatory framework regarding the monitoring and management of
hazardous materials and wastes. In addition to the absence of a national definition of hazardous wastes, limited funding has
caused significant impediments to the effective management of hazardous waste. Thus, current waste management practices in
Thailand present significant potential hazards to humans and the environment. The challenging issues of hazardous waste management
in Thailand are not only related to a scarcity of financial resources (required for treatment and disposal facilities), but
also to the fact that there has been no development of appropriate technology following the principles of waste minimization
and sustainable development. A holistic approach to achieving effective hazardous waste management that integrates the efforts
of all sectors, government, private, and community, is needed for the betterment of human health and the environment.
Received: February 26, 2001 / Accepted: October 11, 2002 |
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| Keywords: | Industrial hazardous waste Nonindustrial hazardous waste Generation Treatment Disposal |
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