Localizing green agenda in solid waste management towards sustainable cities : a case study of Phuket municipality, Thailand | |
| Author | Wongduan Buanieo |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-12-05 |
| Subject(s) | Salvage (Waste, etc.)--Thailand--Phuket Refuse and refuse disposal--Thailand--Phuket |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Urban Environmental Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Population growth and rapid urbanization cause solid waste generation and it become a major problem in urban areas. Municipalities are responsible in the duty of solid waste management at local level. There are several approaches taken by municipalities to eliminate the amount of solid waste including “Green Agenda”. This is a significant method that can go together with city level. Since this concept is an environmental friendly concept (green way) that can solve not only the problem of solid waste but also the other kinds of environmental problem that local governments are undertaken. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to study on the adoption of green concept in case of solid waste management at local level is important. This study applied both qualitative and quantitative method to analyze the process of the adoption of green agenda, actions of stakeholders, and drivers contributed to implement green agenda at the local level. This research applied case study method as lesson learned to study the adoption of green agenda in SWM. The study area was Phuket Municipality, Thailand. The data were collected by questionnaire method as primary data and the documents such as municipal plan and policy as secondary data. Participants were divided into two groups that are participants from municipal office and civil society groups which they were interviewed by questionnaire method and semi-structured interview method. They were interviewed according to the questions in terms of current strategies, solid waste management activities, and significant drivers particularly the implementation of green agenda in term of SWM in municipality. It was found that the process of SWM strategies at municipality consist of 2 main partners that are local government authority and civil society group. Local government authorities are the main actor in implementing green concept at local level because they have authorities to implement but they have to comply with the national policy. In case of civil society groups, they can adopt the concept of green agenda independently according to their purpose. The finding revealed that most of organizations in Phuket Municipality have known and implemented the 3R methods (reduce, reuse, and recycle). Waste minimization is the main program of municipality while recyclable waste bank is the main program of civil society groups. The key factor contributed to the adoption of green agenda in terms of SWM is leader willingness such as local politician, school’s director, hospital board, and hotel manager. Moreover, there are five major drivers that are participation, coordination and cooperation, policy framework/ program regulation, communication and education, financial support, and other supports that influence the implementation of SWM. All drivers can influence municipality and civil society groups in adopting both short term and long term plans of SWM toward to be sustainable cities. Moreover, for further study, studying in several cases study areas and focus on other perspectives such as planting tree can help complete the adoption of green agenda at local level in Thailand. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thapa, Gopal Bahadur;Preeda Parkpian; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2012 |