Assessment of beverage carton waste in Thailand using material flow analysis (MFA) | |
| Author | Tantima Suwannapan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-14-12 |
| Subject(s) | Refuse and refuse disposal--Evaluation--Thailand Packaging waste--Environmental aspects--Thailand |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-14-12 |
| Abstract | Beverage cartons are a widely used form of packaging to protect fresh drink products especially milk and juice products. This study traces a chain of beverage carton recycling mechanisms in Thailand, starting from quantification of the flows and accumulation of beverage carton wastes in the country in 2013. Material flow analysis (MFA) was used as the tool for such quantification. Key stakeholders in the beverage carton recycling chain were interviewed and visited for primary data collection, while all published documentation and databases were accessed for secondary data. The findings of the study includes the existing situation of beverage carton management in Thailand, and the proposed recommendations for overcoming the existing challenges of low recycling rate through wider public participation in beverage carton collection campaigns, increasing the collection efficiency, increase in recycling facilities, and introducing energy recovery options via enabling policy, technology and financial measures. The results of the material flow in 2013 accounted for 273,145 tonnes/year of beverage carton wastes generated in the country. 98.14% of this amount was from post consumption (MSW stream), and 1.86 % of industrial beverage carton waste. Of the total beverage carton wastes generated, only 3.4 % was recycled in 2013 in Thailand, and 96.67% was stocked in the open environment and disposal sites. This large stock indicated a need and scope for diverting this into recycling. Hence, two scenarios were analyzed to project of beverage carton waste management in Thailand in the year 2020. Scenario 1- the Business As Usual (BAU) showed the possibility of 73.38% of beverage carton stocked in the open environment, 23.22% of stock in disposal sites, and 3.3% being recycled. Scenario 2- the Best Case scenario proposed an increase of beverage carton recycling up to 15%, and 70% through energy recovery. If this scenario attainable, only 0.67% of beverage carton waste would accumulate in the open environment, 14.44% stocked in disposal site, a total of 85% of beverage carton wastes utilized to material recycling and energy recovery. |
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Visvanathan, C.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thammarat Koottatep;Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2014 |