| Author | Samonporn Suttibak |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy in
Urban Environmental Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Municipal solid waste management (SWM) problems present a serious challenge to local
government authorities in developing countries. The effective way to address this
tremendous issue is to integreate waste recycling systems into existing and future SWM
programs. The purpose of this study is to seek the mechanism for enhancing the
performance of recycling programs in urban areas. The research utilized multi-level study
approach including the overview assessment and detailed case studies. The scope covered
investigation of existing recycling practices, assessment of recycling performance and
influent factors in a total of 120 recycling programs, as well as detailed investigation of
lessons learned from three cases in Thailand. The mechanism for enhancing recycling
performance was conducted through assessing recycling performance, identifying influent
factors, and developing management measures. The indicators involving efficiency,
effectiveness and service ratio were used for assessing recycling performance through
statistical analysis methods. The influencing factors encompassing technical, economic and
financial, and institutional aspects were identified for three types of recycling programs.
The results from this study suggest that in the context of recycling programs implemented
in Thailand, waste recycling systems could be enhanced by addressing discovered
influencing factors: reducing transportation costs, cooperation with NGOs, and provision
of free organic waste bins. In addition, innovative influencing factors are providing doorto-
door services, managing the recycling program as a cooperative organization, and
providing economic incentives. Enhancing the recycling performance can be potentially
achieved through a number of measures: provision of monetary incentive, tax incentives,
subsidizations, information dissemination, and awareness campaigns. This study
contributes to finding the methodology for assessing the performance and significant
factors in waste recycling system, as well as for identifying the measures related to
involving partners, building capacity, responding to poor recycling performance, and
focusing on significant influencing factors. The multi-level methodology together with the
systematic approach to finding lessons learned from overview and also case studies are
expected to contribute and be applied to other key problem areas. |
| Year | 2009 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| 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) | Amin, A.T.M. Nurul;Chettiyappan Visvanathan;Do Ba Khang; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakonnakhon Campus;Cooperative Research Network (CRN), Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Thailand ; |