The call aims to reduce the amount of hazardous waste, organic waste and recyclable waste sent for disposal at the waste disposal centre, said Phuket City Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet.
Deputy Mayor Mr Suphot visited the waste disposal centre yesterday (Feb 17) to discuss waste management with officials from the Phuket City Municipality Engineering Office and PJT Technology Co Ltd, which operates and maintains the incinerator at the centre.
Phuket City Municipality in November last year inked a deal to pay more than B511 million for PJT Technology to keep operating the island’s only working public incinerator for the next 15 years.
The discussion yesterday focused on handling waste at landfill Pit 4 and Pit 5 while PJT Technology Co Ltd. temporarily shuts down its incinerator for renovations from today (Feb 18) through to Mar 19.
During this period, the incinerator can process only 300 tons of waste per day, while the city generates about 900 tons a day. As a result, the excess waste will be sent to the landfill, Mr Suphot explained.
To manage the overflow, officials are using heavy machinery to spread and distribute the waste, creating more space, he said.
The process of moving large mounds of trash will exacerbate the foul odour coming from the site, Mr Suphot noted, and apologised for the inconvenience.
The incinerator was to be shut down for maintenance from Dec 20 last year through to Jan 20 this year. However, the move to delay the shut down has kept the incinerator operating during Phuket’s peak tourism season, when there is the most number of people on the island.
Mr Suphot yesterday also inspected the waste separation machines brought in by Thaipaiboon Equipment (TPB) under a B40 million contract to carry out waste separation in order to reduce the growing volume of trash accumulating at the landfill.
Joining Mr Suphot for his visit was Wichit Mayor Kreeta Chotiwichanphiphat, who aims to help carry the message for greater waste separation to residents throughout Wichit.
Mr Suphot also called on people to take greater care in disposing of dangerous items, as they will likely end up being dumped at the landfill.
A fire broke out at the landfill site on Sunday (Feb 16) that was believed to have been started by lighters or car batteries dumped in the trash.
Workers at the landfill have been urged to remain vigilant for the outbreak of fire, especially as the weather continues to get hotter.
“Therefore, we ask for the cooperation of our fellow citizens to help separate all types of waste before throwing it away for safety,” Mr Suphot said.