Phitsanulok governor addresses waste crisis after landfill closure

Phitsanulok’s provincial governor issued an urgent directive to local government organisations to address the overflowing rubbish problem after a private landfill was closed. Residents have complained about the stench and need for a solution.

Reporters yesterday, September 2, surveyed the large piles of rubbish accumulating along the roadside near the irrigation canal behind Naresuan University in Tha Pho, Mueang district, Phitsanulok province. The rubbish, left uncollected for over a week, emitted a foul odour.

This situation arose after the private landfill, which previously received the waste, was closed at the end of last month. While Phitsanulok Municipality continues to collect rubbish daily, other local government organisations have struggled to manage waste collection.

The accumulation of waste along the canal road began after Tha Pho Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) announced a halt in rubbish collection due to issues with the private landfill. Since the collection stopped, individuals have been gradually dumping waste in black bags and plastic wrappers at various points, creating massive piles, particularly near the entrance to Gate 4 of Naresuan University. These large heaps have become a significant source of the foul smell.

Kongkit Thakaew, owner of SN Motor, a motorcycle repair shop near the large waste pile in Moo 7, Tha Pho, expressed his concerns. He noted that rubbish began to accumulate after the SAO’s announcement, with people dumping waste day and night.

Kongkit has resorted to storing his waste in front of his shop and hiring private collectors to manage it. He urges local officials to find a tangible solution to the waste issue swiftly.

“Since the SAO stopped collecting, rubbish has been piling up here. People come by on motorcycles, cars, and pickups to dump their waste. It’s never been collected, and the smell is unbearable. I had to find a private firm to manage my waste.”

Landfill expiration

Another significant pile of rubbish, about 100 metres away, contains over 100 black bags, also emitting a strong odour. Despite a sign stating, “Good people don’t dump waste here; only scoundrels do,” the waste continues to grow. People have been scavenging through the waste for recyclable items, such as glass bottles, plastic bottles, and cans, which were mixed with other rubbish despite local government efforts to promote waste separation.

Phusit Somchit, the Governor of Phitsanulok, explained that the waste issue is due to the impending expiration of the landfill contract on September 30. This has left 32 local government organisations and Naresuan University without a dumping site, causing widespread problems as residents believe they have already paid waste collection fees to local officials.

“The solution must begin at the household level, with the separation of wet waste, recyclable waste, and RDF waste to reduce the volume needing disposal. I’ve called for a meeting with the 32 local government organisations and Naresuan University to find immediate measures, such as identifying new dumping sites or forming groups to manage waste collectively.”

Previously, Hua Ro Subdistrict Municipality submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior to establish a waste-to-energy plant, but progress has been slow. Meanwhile, some private entities have started buying household waste for 50 baht per bag to manage disposal. Phusit stressed that while private collection is permissible if done correctly, illegal dumping in public areas is against the law.

In response to the directive, several SAOs have already begun to implement solutions. Tha Pho SAO plans to resume weekly rubbish collection, Tha Thong SAO has initiated daily collection, and Bueng Phra SAO encourages residents to separate waste at the source, with collections scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, reported KhaoSod.