01 December 2003

ENVIRONMENT

Workers at Samae Dam industrial waste treatment plant in Bang Khun Thian district gather used fluorescent light tubes _ a common household item but hazardous waste once used _ for proper disposal. _ BOONNARONG BHUDHIPANYA

Anchalee Kongrut

Boonthip knows old batteries, used bottles of toilet cleansing liquid or broken light bulbs are hazardous. She is frustrated every time she throws them in the household garbage bin.

The city administration launched special red-and-grey bins for hazardous waste years ago, but few residents know about them or where to find them.

They feel they have no choice but to dump hazardous waste into a general garbage container.

A study last year by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration found only 83.69kg of hazardous waste was collected in those bins a day, of the 27,500kg generated.

``The rest of the waste, of course, was mixed with other organic and household waste and buried in a landfill that is not designed for this type of dangerous stuff.

``That will create environmental damage as toxic substances will contaminate soil, water and underground water,'' said a city official responsible for hazardous waste management.

The city is launching a hazardous waste disposal campaign on Thursday to mark Thai Environment Day.

City clerk Nathanon Thavisin said the public would be urged to discard the waste in areas provided by district offices.

The waste would be sent to General Environment Conservation Plc (Genco) for proper treatment.

A campaign booth will be set up at Mahboonkrong Shopping Centre where special bins will be provided for the waste. Mobile telephone operators will set up their own booths to collect old batteries.

While environmentalists lauded city hall's efforts, some wonder how effective it will be.

An environmental official at Sathon district office said he did not know about the campaign, not to mention local residents.

Bang Rak, the only district which provides a regular collection service for hazardous waste, encourages the public to bring waste to the district office.

City officials admitted the public relations campaign was lacklustre.

Pawinee Armarttasn, director of the Public Cleansing Division, said the Dec 4 campaign would raise public awareness of the danger of hazardous waste.

``Each district office will design its own campaign after this,'' she said.

Ms Pawinee said the city provided more than 2,000 bins for hazardous waste and 262 garbage trucks with special compartments for the waste.

Mattana Thanomphan, secretary-general of Magic Eyes, an NGO advocating garbage recycling, said the city's ever-changing policy on garbage collection confused the public.

Ms Mattana said the public wanted to see waste handled properly and be part of the solution.

Residents should be told what happened after waste left their household. ``Public participation is needed, which will result when we tell people about the impact of waste on the environment,'' she said.