On December 17-21, 2024, a research team from the Circular Economy Research Center (CEWT) at Mae Fah Luang University conducted a field visit to Koh Mak, Trat Province, as part of the “Sustainable Waste and Recycling Material Management on Island Areas” project. The team consisted of Dr. Kemachart Kemavuthanon, the project leader and Assistant Dean of the School of Applied Digital Technology at Mae Fah Luang University; Dr. Samatthachai Yamsa-ard from the Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Mae Fah Luang University; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Panate Manomaivibool from the Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics Management program at Burapha University. Representatives from the Coca-Cola Foundation of Thailand, Thai Namthip Co., Ltd., and the Sustainable Resource Management Foundation (3R) also participated in the visit.
The primary goal of this research is to address one of the most pressing environmental issues in Thai tourist destinations: waste management. The project seeks to develop sustainable solutions to mitigate the challenges faced by island areas in managing waste effectively.
The research project addresses a significant environmental issue in Thai tourist attractions: waste management. Many of Thailand’s prominent tourist destinations are islands located in remote areas, often lacking efficient waste management systems. Although the responsibility for waste collection and disposal legally falls under local administrative organizations (LAOs), smaller LAOs, particularly Subdistrict Administrative Organizations (SAOs), cannot frequently manage waste effectively. To tackle this challenge, the project adopts the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy model, leveraging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms to enhance Thailand’s recycling chain and support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The “Eastern Gulf of Thailand Island Recycling Waste Management Project”, supported by funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation of Thailand, targets key island tourist destinations in the eastern region: Koh Chang, Koh Mak, Koh Kood, Koh Samet, and Koh Larn. The project focuses on supporting the collection and transporting of recyclable waste from these islands. Since its inception, the project has collected over 5,414.14 tons of recyclable waste from the five islands. In 2024 alone, more than 2,221.83 tons of recyclable waste were collected, surpassing the initial targets. This success has been facilitated by the cooperation of 21 second-hand shops across the islands and the development of a smart island recycling waste management system utilizing API Line integration and smart technologies.
During the field visit, representatives from the Koh Mak Subdistrict Administrative Organization and local community members discussed ongoing waste management challenges and explored potential solutions. These discussions resulted in actionable strategies to enhance waste management on the island, emphasizing community engagement and raising awareness about the importance of sustainable practices. The outcomes of this collaboration are expected to contribute to improved waste management systems and establish clearer operational mechanisms.
In the project's third year, further advancements will include optimizing logistics and supply chain systems to analyze transportation routes for exporting waste from the islands. Additionally, AI technologies will be employed to forecast future waste volumes, enabling more effective planning. The research team, along with Coca-Cola Foundation Thailand, Thai Namthip Co., Ltd., and the Sustainable Resource Management Foundation (3R), also plans to expand the project’s successful model to other islands beyond the current targets, thereby broadening its impact on sustainable waste management in Thailand.