BANGKOK, 4 December 2014 (NNT) – The Prime Minister of Thailand has reiterated the use of garbage as alternative sources of electricity to Thailand, reducing energy import demand.
The Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given a speech in the 2014 Thai Environment Day and the National Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Volunteer Day event today.
He said that the government has put high priority on solving the environmental issues, especially the garbage issues.
He said that the volume of garbage and dangerous waste in Thailand is rising due to the lack of good management. Therefore, the government is looking to add value to these waste products with a waste management system in communities nationwide, starting from waste separation within domestic households.
The Prime Minister has ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Interior to promote an understanding to the public on the rationale behind the construction project of the new waste management facilities.
He said that the proper waste management will reduce the general amount of pollution generated and could prevent severity of excess garbage volume, as Thailand currently does not take full advantage from the waste products, such as sorting, treatment procedures, and using them as alternative energy sources.
Thailand needs the facilities that can generate energy from the waste product in all areas as the energy situation is still unstable, said the Prime Minister. Thailand still relies on the import of petroleum and natural gas from foreign countries for up to 70 percent of the national consumption, with the cost of 4 trillion baht.
He said that the waste-to-energy facilities will make Thailand less dependent on energy from foreign sources, reducing the country's energy costs. The country could then use the saved money to spend on developments and investments.
Meanwhile, Thai people should practice waste management everyday to help each other in improving waste management facilities like other countries that value itself as a tourist destination or an educational hub, said the Prime Minister.
The Thai PM has also mentioned that Thai people should use the country's natural resources sufficiently to celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday on 5 December 2014.