The move was announced at a meeting of the Phuket Waste and Waste Management Committee held today (July 31), chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai
Also present were Somkid Chokhong, advisor to the governor, Phuket Town Mayor Supachok Laongphet and other key committee members.
The committee acknowledged the worsening garbage crisis and resolved to accelerate practical solutions through a combination of increased fees, inter-provincial waste transfers, and stronger collaboration with private operators.
A key topic was the approval of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) transportation from Thaipaiboon Equipment Co Ltd to a waste-to-energy plant in Krabi. Another private firm, D-Kids Co Ltd, has applied to move waste to a disposal facility in Prachinburi, further alleviating the burden on Phuket’s local system.
Both measures were welcomed as temporary relief to the mounting pressure at the Saphan Hin disposal centre, which currently receives over 1,300 tonnes of rubbish daily – far exceeding its design capacity.
“The waste challenge is now a critical issue for public health and the environment, especially in the rainy season when wastewater and odour problems worsen,” Mayor Supachok said.
In particular, waste piling up in the surrounding Saphan Hin community has triggered serious concern over sanitation and the health of nearby residents. The situation, he said, requires immediate intervention and long-term behavioural change.
To support more sustainable practices, Phuket City Municipality has proposed raising the waste disposal fee from B560 per tonne to B865. The hike is expected to better reflect actual operating costs and serve as a financial incentive for waste producers to cut down at the source, Mayor Supachok explained.
Municipal officials stressed that the new fee would encourage businesses and households alike to rethink how much waste they generate, in line with the goal of cutting the island’s garbage output by 30% within 90 days.
The committee also proposed a reforestation programme to help counterbalance the environmental impact of waste disposal activities. Local government bodies and private sector stakeholders were urged to actively join in both immediate and long-term waste management strategies.
“We cannot solve this alone,” Mayor Supachok said. “Public participation is crucial. Every sector must come together to build a transparent, efficient and community-driven system that matches Phuket’s unique needs.”
The provincial government plans to submit a full report of the committee’s recommendations to the Ministry of Interior and other relevant agencies for further consideration.
The meeting followed a separate emergency session chaired by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, which underlined the need for island-wide cooperation and rapid policy adjustments to manage the waste crisis.
Mayor Supachok, who inspected the Saphan Hin centre earlier in the week, reiterated the urgency of the matter.
“This is not a short-term issue. Waste has been accumulating over a long period, and as Phuket expands – in tourism, in population, in development – so too does our waste problem,” he said.
Phuket’s waste management officials have already begun implementing public awareness campaigns focused on source separation and proper disposal, while studying new waste-to-energy solutions to reduce reliance on landfill and incineration.
Authorities have warned that failure to act now risks worsening health, environmental and economic impacts – particularly as tourism continues to rebound.
“We must act decisively,” said Vice Governor Samawit. “The wellbeing of Phuket’s residents, our tourism reputation, and the island’s future all depend on it.”