Phuket Town trash fee trebles

PHUKET TOWN: Garbage collection fees have skyrocketed for most homes in Phuket Town, from 10 baht a month to 30 baht a month. The increased rates, introduced on July 11 – nearly two months earlier than expected – have been adopted by Phuket Town Municipality because the old collection fees failed to cover costs. A house with 20 liters of garbage a day or less now incurs a monthly fee of 30 baht. Anything more than 20 liters a day incurs a further 30 baht. A hotel, apartment block or business with less than 1,000 liters of garbage a day will have to pay a fee of 1,500 baht a month. One-off trash, such as tree prunings, will cost 100 baht for removal of up to 1,000 liters. Dr Tassanee Akwanich, former Director of Public Health and Environment, suggested that residents can reduce the amount of garbage – and their costs – by more careful sorting and recycling.