Mr. Prawut Srimanotham, VP Business Development, shared his insights on the role of waste-to-energy initiatives in addressing environmental issues and supporting the country’s sustainable development.
“Currently, the company is developing municipal solid waste-to-energy power plant projects in Nakhon Ratchasima and Surat Thani provinces. These projects will utilize approximately 550 and 600 tons of municipal waste per day, respectively, transforming it into electricity to sell to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). This represents a significant step in converting resources previously viewed as waste into valuable energy.”
Mr. Prawut added that the company’s focus on developing waste-to-energy projects aligns with the government’s designation of waste management as a national agenda item. This policy has driven the private sector to recognize its crucial role in contributing to solutions and developing projects that minimize environmental impact while generating clean energy benefits.
“A vast amount of waste is still disposed of through landfills, and in many areas, this is not conducted properly according to sanitary landfill principles. This leads to issues such as leachate, foul odors, and the release of methane gas—a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.”
In our municipal waste-to-energy power plants, all waste will be processed within a closed system equipped with advanced air and water pollution control and treatment systems. This ensures that environmental emissions are kept well below the standards required by law. However, despite highly efficient pollution control systems, waste disposal through this method still carries a certain degree of environmental impact.
“Therefore, the most effective approach to solving the waste problem is reducing waste generation at the source. This includes promoting recycling to repurpose materials, as well as encouraging reuse—both of which are vital strategies to minimize the volume of waste that eventually enters the disposal process.”
SSP would like to invite all sectors to recognize the importance of waste reduction, proper waste segregation, and resource recovery. Together, we can protect the environment and build a sustainable society for both the present and future generations.
