Background

Location: Phuket, Thailand

Dates: 1994-1998

Partners: Municipality of Phuket, Tourism Association of Phuket, Chamber of Commerce, National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) of Thailand

Key Issues: Solid Waste Management, Capacity Building

Funders: ICSC; City of Phuket, Chamber of Commerce and 53 local hotels, restaurants and other tourism related businesses

Description

The spectacular Island-Province of Phuket is a prime tourist destination in southern Thailand. The Province is an important contributor to the nation's economy, one of South-East Asia's most vibrant. However Phuket simply piled its garbage beyond the boundaries of its largest town – threatening its sustainability. Local authorities were eager to improve on this practice and had taken certain steps in this direction—but the path forward was rather muddy. Starting in 1994, with the encouragement of the Thai government, ICSC helped local authorities to find the first stepping stones to sustainable solid waste management. This meant changes in both the physical logistics and the institutional framework for managing waste. The project involved everyone from the Mayor to the scavengers. ICSC brought the public and private sectors together to tackle solid waste problems. The Mayor convened a “White Pearl Committee” of stakeholders that identified SWM priorities, and with ICSC’s help instituted improvements to the landfill (including compacting waste, gas emission control, user pay, operating manual and training program for workers, planted a buffer zone of 4,000 saplings, reviewed technical standards), established a school and community program on recycling and waste disposal awareness, conducted health workshops for waste pickers, improved the marketing of recyclables to junk shops, and developed a pilot composting program for resort hotels and a backyard composting demonstration site. The result of the project was improved solid waste management, including safer and more efficient disposal in a sanitary landfill with a green buffer zone. The demonstration project became the model for the South East Asia Solid Waste Improvement Project (SEALSWIP - see project description) in six cities.