Abstract
Due to increase in population, economic expansion, growth and expansion of the city, more waste problems are increasing and becoming a global problem that every country encounters. Only waste management policies from government and waste management campaigns from private sectors cannot keep up with the excessive waste amount unless all people in societies become aware that their cooperation in waste reduction can make a great contribution. This paper provides an overview of waste management in Thailand, how private sectors take part in waste management, and how consumers in communities can contribute in waste reduction. It also suggests the framework of mindfulness and Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for waste management reform. Documentary study and literature review were used for data collection. The results showed that consumers can be a big producer of waste due to their overconsumption behavior, so they can take the major role in waste reduction with moderate consumption. Mindfulness can conduct consumers to stay awake and aware of waste problems and have a sense of caring towards other people, their communities and environment. Sufficiency Economy philosophy can work as a guideline for consumers to make ethical choice with moderation, reasonableness, and prudence. With the framework of mindfulness and sufficiency economy philosophy, waste management reform can be conducted at the beginning stage for waste reduction before it is generated. With the care of environment and their communities, consumers will be willing to work together with government and private sectors in following 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) concept for sustainability.
Highlights
In Thailand the amount of municipal solid waste generated in 2018 was at 27.8 million tons, which is a 1.64% increase from 2017 due to expanding urban communities, and lifestyle changing from the shift of an agricultural to an urban society
Right mindfulness and Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy can be introduced as effective framework for waste management
Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy emphasizes that the producers or consumers try to produce or consume within the limitation of existing income or resources first while right mindfulness keeps them to go on track
Summary
In Thailand the amount of municipal solid waste generated in 2018 was at 27.8 million tons, which is a 1.64% increase from 2017 due to expanding urban communities, and lifestyle changing from the shift of an agricultural to an urban society. Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy emphasizes that the producers or consumers try to produce or consume within the limitation of existing income or resources first while right mindfulness keeps them to go on track. This is an important principle in decreasing the requirement for unnecessary things, reducing waste generation, and increasing the ability to control the production. Right mindfulness and Sufficiency Economy principles and activities must be carried out at a sufficient level along with emphasizing on knowledge and virtue conditions This framework underpinned by knowledge and morality could lead us to practical waste management reform and further sustainable waste management
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