Waste separation practices of government garbage collectors in BMA : a public policy dilemma | |
| Author | Chalika Noonin |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-04-06 |
| Subject(s) | Sanitation workers--Thailand--Bangkok Refuse and refuse disposal--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Ecological sustainability in cities has been regarded as an important goal of urban governance. In this regard, it is generally acknowledged that task related to ecological sustainability such as practice and promotion of waste recycling in cities would easily groove into existing state of urban governance. However, existing conditions and practices in waste separation by the government waste collectors may pose a situation contradicting both the imperatives of good governance and ecologically sound, non-end-of-pipe solid waste management program. This study examines the case of traditional waste recycling practice of the BMA waste collectors. To date, the waste separation activity traditionally and informally conducted by the government waste collectors have been the most important major contributor to waste recycling in Bangkok Metropolis. This practice, which has existed for over thirty years, results in a significant amount of income from sale of recyclables gathered and also constitutes a major factor in waste reduction for the metropolis, lessening what otherwise would be greater pressure on the city's existing landfill capacity. On the other hand, this practice has generated deep problems in the domain of urban governance, particularly that pertaining to the operations, efficiency, and effectiveness of the work of the cleansing section. Further, such a practice has posed a serious threat to the viability of popularizing on-site or home-based waste separation that is supposed to be an integral part of a viable and ecologically sound integrated waste management program in the metropolis. This study describes and explains the dynamics and implications of BMA waste collectors' waste separation activity. It argues that from the point of view of public administration the existing practice has filled in the inadequacy of salary and material incentives to waste collectors given by the existing civil service system as well as some gaps in public financing of maintenance and operations of waste collection trucks. However, such practice has eroded the values of transparency, accountability, and meritocracy in the government organization. Moreover, it has brought about certain degrees of inefficiency and ineffectiveness in government delivery system in waste collection. This study also argues that while the BMA collectors' waste separation activity has contributed much to the total volume of recycled waste, such informal practice, which is monopolized by the waste collectors and their immediate supervisors in the bureaucracy, actually discourages on-site or home-based waste separation in the long-run. Thus, the practice acts as a drag to the taking-off and popularization of the official waste separation program by BMA and erodes in a very fundamental way the development of a long-term, ecologically sound integrated waste management program -- particularly its waste reduction component -- in the metropolitan Bangkok. Finally, the study proposes alternative strategy for a way out of the dilemma in these two related domains of public policy. |
| Year | 2004 |
| 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) | Sajor, Edsel ; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Zimmermann, Willi ;Chretien, Michel ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |