Phuket City Mayor Supachok La-ongphet confirmed the request was formally submitted on July 29 as part of Phase 2 of the landfill rehabilitation project at the Phuket Central Waste Disposal Center, located in Saphan Hin and under the municipality’s management.
The funds will be used to upgrade the landfill in line with sanitary engineering standards, expand its capacity and alleviate the existing waste burden, he said.
Progress on the request was discussed at the second 2025 meeting of the Phuket Provincial Waste and Waste Management Committee, held on July 31 and chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai.
During the meeting, Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), announced that the PPAO has identified ways to allocate the B30mn budget by scrapping or postponing non-urgent projects to prioritise the waste crisis.
“Waste is a serious and urgent problem that affects Phuket’s image as a tourist destination. But more importantly, it impacts the quality of life of our residents,” Mr Rewat said.
He confirmed that the funding proposal will be tabled for a vote at the next PPAO Council meeting.
Mayor Supachok welcomed the support.
“I would like to thank the PPAO President for recognising the importance of collaboration in addressing this issue. Waste management is a comprehensive problem that requires joint efforts,” he said.
“This project is not just about improving Phuket’s image for tourism, but more importantly, about improving the quality of life for our local residents in a sustainable way.”
The funding request comes amid broader efforts by provincial authorities to address the island’s deepening waste crisis. At the same July 31 meeting, the Phuket Waste and Waste Management Committee unveiled ambitious plans to reduce the island’s garbage output by 30% within three months.
The measures include raising waste disposal fees, transporting excess waste to other provinces, and partnering with private firms for refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing. The Saphan Hin waste facility is currently handling more than 1,300 tonnes of rubbish per day ‒ well over capacity ‒ prompting concerns over public health and environmental impacts, particularly during the rainy season.
Officials are urging stronger public participation, long-term behavioural changes, and accelerated policy action to tackle what they describe as one of the most urgent challenges facing the island.