Thailand
Statement
by
Dr. Wijarn Simachaya
Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand
on
?Policy Options and Actions for Expediting Progress in
Sustainable Waste Management?
At the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the 19th session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development, New York, 2nd March 2011
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Thailand wishes to thank the panelists for their contributions and would like to align
our statements with the Group of 77 and China.
As we all are aware that waste management is one of the key factors contributing
to sustainable development. Ineffective waste management could lead to loss of
necessary resources, as well as causing pollution problems that affect human health
and the environment.
Similar to most developing countries, Thailand is facing a growing waste volume of
both solid and hazardous waste due to growing economies and rapid urbanization.
Our current policies have put emphasis on integrated waste management and are
shifting towards more holistic and innovative approaches with some key strategies,
including
· Applying the Reduce Reuse & Recycle (3Rs) principle by promoting recycling
businesses, creating tax incentives for using recycled materials in production
process, and promoting recycling markets at community level;
· Promoting waste to energy program to utilize organic and agricultural waste.
· Promoting cleaner production and technology to minimize pollution and waste
from the production lines and industrial activities; and
· Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility and Public-Private Partnership
initiatives, such as a Waste Exchange Program and a waste take-back system
for hazardous and recyclable waste materials.
The national policies also focus on capacity building of communities and municipalities
in waste management by promoting the reduction of household waste and segregation
of generated household hazardous wastes at the sources. In addition, the establishment
of centralized facilities is promoted for treatment of community hazardous waste
and infectious waste, with encouraging investment from the private sectors. The
development of a drafted law on environmental economic instruments is also underway.
- 2 -
Mr. Chairman,
Thailand believes that sustainable waste management can be advanced by further
strengthening the policies on economic instruments and the polluter pay principles
to take into account the responsibilities of producers, importers and consumers in
waste management. The use of incentive and financial instrument is a vital tool to
encourage the change in consumption behavior as well as to create a sustainable
financial mechanism for waste management.
Systematic and reliable waste-related databases, including the information on
environmental and health risks resulted from solid and hazardous waste are
essential to facilitate formulation of policies and in designing appropriate systems
for effective waste management.
Environmentally sound management system of electronic and hazardous wastes
should be strengthened in respond to an increasing trend of those waste streams,
and to ensure that they are properly managed. Investment and technology transfer
for the development of appropriate recycling and disposal infrastructure are also
required.
The implementation of the Basel Convention and enforcement of coherent regulatory
framework, including capacity building of customs and boarder control officia ls,
should be further strengthened to prevent and control unwanted imports and
illegal trafficking of hazardous waste.
In closing, Thailand would like to stress once again that successful waste management
requires cooperation from individual citizens. Effective waste management would
not be possible without the change of unsustainable consumption and disposal
behavior. The waste issues, hence, need to be further addressed in conjunction
with the SCP and other MDGs issues, particularly education and poverty reduction.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
by
Dr. Wijarn Simachaya
Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand
on
?Policy Options and Actions for Expediting Progress in
Sustainable Waste Management?
At the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the 19th session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development, New York, 2nd March 2011
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Thailand wishes to thank the panelists for their contributions and would like to align
our statements with the Group of 77 and China.
As we all are aware that waste management is one of the key factors contributing
to sustainable development. Ineffective waste management could lead to loss of
necessary resources, as well as causing pollution problems that affect human health
and the environment.
Similar to most developing countries, Thailand is facing a growing waste volume of
both solid and hazardous waste due to growing economies and rapid urbanization.
Our current policies have put emphasis on integrated waste management and are
shifting towards more holistic and innovative approaches with some key strategies,
including
· Applying the Reduce Reuse & Recycle (3Rs) principle by promoting recycling
businesses, creating tax incentives for using recycled materials in production
process, and promoting recycling markets at community level;
· Promoting waste to energy program to utilize organic and agricultural waste.
· Promoting cleaner production and technology to minimize pollution and waste
from the production lines and industrial activities; and
· Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility and Public-Private Partnership
initiatives, such as a Waste Exchange Program and a waste take-back system
for hazardous and recyclable waste materials.
The national policies also focus on capacity building of communities and municipalities
in waste management by promoting the reduction of household waste and segregation
of generated household hazardous wastes at the sources. In addition, the establishment
of centralized facilities is promoted for treatment of community hazardous waste
and infectious waste, with encouraging investment from the private sectors. The
development of a drafted law on environmental economic instruments is also underway.
- 2 -
Mr. Chairman,
Thailand believes that sustainable waste management can be advanced by further
strengthening the policies on economic instruments and the polluter pay principles
to take into account the responsibilities of producers, importers and consumers in
waste management. The use of incentive and financial instrument is a vital tool to
encourage the change in consumption behavior as well as to create a sustainable
financial mechanism for waste management.
Systematic and reliable waste-related databases, including the information on
environmental and health risks resulted from solid and hazardous waste are
essential to facilitate formulation of policies and in designing appropriate systems
for effective waste management.
Environmentally sound management system of electronic and hazardous wastes
should be strengthened in respond to an increasing trend of those waste streams,
and to ensure that they are properly managed. Investment and technology transfer
for the development of appropriate recycling and disposal infrastructure are also
required.
The implementation of the Basel Convention and enforcement of coherent regulatory
framework, including capacity building of customs and boarder control officia ls,
should be further strengthened to prevent and control unwanted imports and
illegal trafficking of hazardous waste.
In closing, Thailand would like to stress once again that successful waste management
requires cooperation from individual citizens. Effective waste management would
not be possible without the change of unsustainable consumption and disposal
behavior. The waste issues, hence, need to be further addressed in conjunction
with the SCP and other MDGs issues, particularly education and poverty reduction.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
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