Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the Waste Bank Event by Ministry of Interior-Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment

Your Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Anutin,

Your Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Patcharawat,

Khun Suthipong and Dr. Wandee,

Esteemed Governors, 

Distinguished Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment officials and UN colleagues,

It is my honor to welcome you to the UN’s Conference Centre to take stock of our seminal accomplishments on waste collection, waste segregation and localization of SDGs. 

Your Excellencies Deputy Prime Ministers, your presence here today is a testament to your leadership, enabling Thailand to make good on its commitments through long-term strategies to meet its net zero emission targets.

It was here at this venue two years ago that we signed a historic Statement of Commitment with all 76 provincial Governors, to whom I would like to extend a very warm welcome. I am delighted to see you again.

Let me take this opportunity to set out the top five achievements that have resulted from our deepening partnerships since then.

Deputy Prime Ministers, together with you we were able to showcase these accomplishments to the UN’s Deputy-Secretary General when she visited Thailand last month.

One, our partnership has facilitated the scaling up of waste collection and segregation by taking them to 14 million rural households nationwide. 
Two, this is leading to 550,000 tons in annual carbon reductions and generating its equivalent in carbon credits.

Three, waste banks have been established in 7,773 local communities to boost the recycling rates of paper, plastic, and aluminum.

Four, these waste banks have collected 1.4 million tons of recyclables, accounting for 6% of all solid waste.

And five, the carbon footprint of Thai fabrics is being assessed to reduce emissions during their lifecycle. At the same time, under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari, upskilling on sustainable fashion is provided to 2 million women weavers.

The leadership of all 76 governors present here today has been critical to making all these initiatives a reality at provincial level.

You have led the way on securing a quick win for dealing with waste within ASEAN where not many countries have been able to address this issue at this scale in such a short time.

The Deputy-Secretary General sees these achievements in Thailand as a model worth replicating in other countries globally.

Just as importantly, your communities directly benefit from a cleaner environment free of unrecycled waste while the carbon credits bring much-needed funds for local infrastructure development.

This is an excellent example of “waste to wealth,” whereby collecting, sorting and recycling waste can generate incomes and capital for communities.

To accelerate this progress, it will be vital to leverage funding from International Financial Institutions like the Asian Development Bank to help develop bankable projects for dealing with waste comprehensively at city level in partnership with the MOI and municipalities.

This will bring to bear fit-for-purpose technologies for deep decarbonization of waste, including water, agricultural, industrial as well as household waste.

Emissions in Thailand are expected to peak in 2025 and waste management can be a ready-made entry point for reducing GHGs to reach carbon neutrality by mid-century.

Next month, I will be looking to share best practices and lessons learned on waste collection, segregation, and recycling from countries leading from the front in accelerating the SDGs within ASEAN.

It has been my honor and privilege to have been working with you over the past years and I am very grateful for all your support.

Thank you.