Fostering a circular economy transition in Bangkok: A learning journey

Abstract

The Thai government has adopted a "National Action Plan on Waste Management" (2022-2027) aiming to reduce recyclable waste by at least 74% and food waste by 28% by 2027. The national Pollution Control Department is in charge of implementing the roadmap but lacks measures to enforce the policy effectively. This leaves the majority of circular economy activities to the private sector, civil society, and informal waste pickers. At the time of writing, a new initiative titled "Material Recovery, Recycling, and Upcycling (Ma-Re-Up) Platform" aims to bring these stakeholders together by developing circular economy business models in two districts in Bangkok. These businesses are intended to create new jobs and additional incomes for residents through the recovery of food and plastic waste. The project is led by the Network for Sustainable Development (the Network), a non-profit organization that has successfully initiated 19 urban farms in Bangkok in the past. Working in collaboration with both government and corporate partners, the Network intends to scale the Ma-Re-Up platform in the wider Bangkok Metropolitan Area, fostering both environmental sustainability and social inclusion.