Assessing Municipal Solid Waste Management Policies and Challenges in Thailand

Waste management is always one of the significant issues in Thailand, as the data shows that around a third of the municipal waste is not treated sanitarily. Thus, the regulation framework relating to municipal waste management in Thailand could potentially be one of the challenges causing difficulties in developing sustainable waste management in Thailand. The waste management regulation was initiated under the Ministry of Public Health 32 years ago; a better-related ministry, such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, was established 3 years later. Thus, even until now, the authorization has remained with the Ministry of Public Health. Nevertheless, the ministry that is managing the waste is the Ministry of Interior, which tends to have limited knowledge regarding environmental management. Thus, removing the limitation of the policy framework by giving full authority and reforming the Ministry of Interior could support waste management in Thailand.