It's a no-brainer, right? Thailand's village waste is mostly organic, easily compostable, not a big deal. Urban waste however is more dominated by plastics, packaging, recyclables.
Really? Is this still cliche true in the 21st century?
Reading a very interesting study on waste generated by the 51,948 inhabitants in the 72 villages of Chiang Saen District in the rural northern Thai Province of Chiang Rai, I have my doubts.
Here, the researchers found a composition of Organic Waste 48.99% Recyclables 47.95% and non-Recyables 3.16% ( organic./. non-organic = 0.96 ./. 1).
For Bangkok, Thailand's Pollution Control Department reports: Organic Waste 53.55% Recyclables 14.57% and non-Recyables 31.88% ( organic./. non-organic = 1.15 ./. 1).
Of course, not all materials labeled 'recyclable' actually are of a good enough quality to be bought by a recycling company. And of course, villagers compost more than urban dwellers.
But the point here is: where is the big difference in household waste generation - hence in consumption patterns, now called lifestyles?
In real life, convenience stores even in the smallest places, have continuously gained market share. And, long before Covid lockdowns, delivery services reach everyone, everywhere.
Maybe it's time to revise the old cliche that people living in Thailand's villages are not part of the modern world of cash-based, convenience-focussed, more and more digitalized world of consumption, which we all like to enjoy.
In my work at CBE, I focus on quality assurance and volume creation for the recyclables, decentralized clean energy generation from materials that can't be recycled and/or sold and on public health & sanitation first concerning 'organics'.
What are your experiences with urban vs.rural waste composition? Leave a comment.
Sources:
Study: Kaewkanta, Ch., Suma Y., Eaktasang, N.: 'Municipal Solid Waste Quantity and Composition Evaluation for Assessment of Wasteaware Indicators in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Chiang Rai Province.';9th Intl.Conference on Environmental Engineering, Science and Management The Heritage Chiang Rai, Thailand May 27-29, 2020.
Picture: 7 Eleven in Chiang Saen, https://maps123.net/en/TH/7-eleven-p145133