Researcher : Wanvisa Kharmakham
Summary
Thailand's waste management industry has been driven by several plans and supports, including the Second National Waste Management Action Plan (2022–2027) and BOI incentives. As a result, management performance for the four major wastes, including municipal solid waste, municipal hazardous waste, industrial waste, and infectious waste, has continued to improve. The market structure shows high competition in wholesale, with concentration in waste collection and transportation and in treatment & disposal operations. However, Thailand still faces governance and structural challenges, including limited resources and facilities, low awareness of source separation among waste generators, limited mandatory regulations, and more. These factors pose barriers to industry growth. Several trends have been identified to shape the transition of the industry including stricter regulations and a shift toward circular economy practices. These create opportunities for investment in infrastructure including collection, separation, recycling, treatment and disposal sites, as well as for investments in technologies to improve performance. Moreover, strategic partnerships are also key to strengthening the industry.
