Better recycling facilities can help increase capacity, effectiveness, and efficiency of the recycling process, which will help the value chain capture the cost of plastic waste that is disposed of in landfills or leaked into bodies of water as marine pollution.

Small scale recycling or waste processing facilities can help increase the coverage of waste management systems in remote areas.

Small scale recycling or waste processing facilities can incentivize proper waste segregation and recycling, as the plastic waste can be upcycled into value-added products to generate income for local communities. As there is higher waste segregation and recycling, the amount of plastics that are discarded and wasted can be reduced, thus reducing marine plastic pollution and converting the deadweight loss from wasted plastics into economic value.

Recycling facilities can be concentrated in major cities and industrial areas where many businesses are located, and do not cover rural areas.

Better recycling capacity may disincentivize people from using reusable products or from reducing waste generation.

Recycling can still only focus on high-value recyclable waste and neglect low value recyclable waste, such as flexible packaging due to cost-effectiveness issue.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: Women face social stigma from participating in waste management activities, which is not addressed by this IOA.

External risk: Price of raw materials can affect recycling as a decline in price of raw materials makes its cheaper to produce virgin plastic and makes recycling less feasible.

Efficiency risk: Achieving full potential of recycling depends on effective waste segregation and management systems.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: Women generally have lower employment opportunities in waste management businesses, which is not addressed by this IOA. (14)

This IOA helps increase resource efficiency and circular economy by recycling waste into new products.

BCG Model (Bio, Circular and Green Economy): Aims to promote community-based municipal solid waste infrastructure to achieve economies of scale, are located in suitable areas based on proper assessment, and must follow measures to limit impact on the environment and communities (5). This policy supports the IOA by promoting investment in waste management infrastructure that are fully functioning and can properly manage the wastes.

National Solid Waste Management Master Plan 2016-2021: Aims to improve effectiveness and efficiency of the waste value chain through waste segregation, economies of scale, and better regulations that incentivize proper waste management (4).

Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018-2030: Sets 100% recycling rate for targeted plastic waste by 2027 (15). This policy supports the IOA by driving investment in waste management infrastructure in order to achieve the recycling target.

National Action Plan for Plastic Waste Management: Aims to reduce plastic waste by reduction of plastic waste at sources, reduction of single-use plastic at consuption process, and post consumption plastic waste management (19). This policy supports the IOA by promoting proper waste segregation that will increase efficiency of waste recycling and increase incentives for investment in waste management infrastructure.

Financial incentives: Communities can invest in small scale waste management infrastructure with the money from the Village Fund, which is government allotted funding that is given annually to each community (7).

Fiscal incentives: Board of Investment (BOI) Promotion provides 5-8 years or more of Corporate Income Tax exemption, import duty exemption on machinery and raw materials, and other non-tax incentives for recycling and reuse of unwanted materials, and waste treatment or disposal (11).

Other incentives: Environment Fund was established under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act (1992) to provide interested stakeholders funding of up to USD 166,667 for projects within the focus areas, including waste management (23).

Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act 1992 requires planning for environmental management, monitoring environmental quality, and allows for local authorities to invest and operate waste disposal facilities (6). This regulation supports the IOA by enabling local government to invest in waste management infrastructure that is compatible to the local context.

Public Health Act 1992 allows for local authorities to oversee management of and maintain the collection, transportation, and disposal of sewage and solid waste within the locality (6). This regulation supports the IOA by allowing local government to develop their own waste management system and infrastructure.

Act on the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country 1992 prohibits littering in public spaces and in waterways. In 2017, it was amended to allow local authorities to collect and manage waste under supervision of provincial authorities and the Ministry of Interior (16). This regulation is relevant to the IOA by giving local government independence in waste management.

Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No.295 (2005) regulates qualities for containers made from plastic. Clause 8 prohibits the use of plastic containers made from re-used plastic except for using to pack fruits with a peel, meaning that water bottles must be made from virgin plastic (20). This regulation drives production of virgin plastics instead of driving recycling, which is an relevant to IOA as it can affect investment in different type of waste management infrastructure, such as waste disposal sites or recycling facilities.

Foreign Business Act (FBA) 1999 stipulates eligibility criteria for foreign businesses in Thailand. Renewable energy production is not restricted by FBA, but foreign businesses must obtain a BOI investment promotion certificate to own land used in energy production (21). This regulation is relevant to the IOA as foreign investment will have to comply to the legal requirements.

Informal Waste Collectors Association (สมาคมซาเล้งและร้านรับซื้อของเก่า), TPBI, SCG, Indorama Ventures, PTTGC, Wongpanit, Zero Waste Yolo

Pollution Control Department (PCD), Department of Environmental Quality Promotion (DEQP), Board of Investment (BOI), Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA), municipalities responsible for waste management for local districts (12).

Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Precious Plastic Bangkok, Trash Hero, Stockholm Environmental Institute, Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management, Terracycle Thai Foundation

Public Private Partnership for Sustainable Plastic and Waste Management

Waste management infrastructure is needed throughout the whole country. In top tier provinces, highly urbanized areas with high population density can generate large volumes of waste. In such areas, large scale waste management infrastructure may be appropriate as economies of scale can be achieved to increase efficiency of recycling. Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is also located in top tier provinces, which are industrial areas that generate large volumes of waste and have demand for large-scale waste management infrastructure. Moreover, projects within EEC are also eligible for BOI incentives.

In second tier provinces and remote areas, small scale waste management infrastructure is more appropriate to decrease investment size and lower transportation costs.

In second tier provinces and remote areas, small scale waste management infrastructure is more appropriate to decrease investment size and lower transportation costs.