Visitors lounging on the pristine sands of Karon Beach, Phuket’s most extensive coast, paint a relaxing picture of this popular tourist destination. However, there is an urgent pursuit for sustainability beneath the surface.
Phuket, a beautiful yet rapidly changing island province, aspires to attain the distinction of a low-carbon destination to further bolster its eco-tourism appeal. Governor Narong Woonciew has asserted this drive by stating the need to focus on managing food waste, a pressing concern that is leaving detrimental effects on the environment.
According to Norwich, proactive talks amongst state organisations and an eco-conscious development foundation have led to the agreement of implementing a holistic and systematic plan for food waste management. It is imperative that state agencies, the private sector and civil society sectors pool their resources and initiatives effectively to guarantee utmost sustainability.
Wattanapong Suksai of the Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office has stated support from an environmental fund to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also putting in place responsive actions to battle climate change. A working team, shepherded by the local government, has been organised to operationalise the tasks.
Phuket, aligning itself with five sectors, namely energy, transport, waste management, agriculture, forestry and industry, has dedicated efforts to control the emission of greenhouse gasses. Phuket’s carbon dioxide emission, which stood at an alarming 3.1 million tons per year in 2019, is projected to escalate to approximately 4.6 million tons by 2030. Yet, Wattanapong is hopeful that successful mitigation efforts can bring this figure down significantly to 440,000 tonnes per year by 2030.
Attention is also being paid to the island’s waste management issues. Around 50% of Phuket’s unsorted rubbish comprises food waste. Enhanced segregation, a cost-efficient and eco-friendly disposal method, can considerably mitigate this problem, according to the Environmental and Pollution Control Office 15.
In response to the food waste problem, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) plans to work in closer association with Phuket municipality. PPAO manages a composting facility and seeks to cultivate a knowledge hub where locals can learn to dispose of their garbage responsibly.
A proposed platform will be instrumental in educating residents and businesses about food waste and potential strategies for efficient management. It will ascertain the quantity of surplus food discarded by hotels, retail stores, and departmental stores, aiding in devising effective disposal plans, recycling options and facilitating donation to needy groups.
The office is also expected to strive for a financial boost to promote Phuket as a role model province in invigorating food waste management efforts and achieving its cherished low-carbon destination status.
Thiwat Seedokbuab, vice chair of the PPAO, is optimistic about the established composting facility in tambon Rassada and encourages residents to be active managers of their food waste. Seedokbuab affirms that the procurement of electric buses is underway, moving Phuket another step closer to its sustainable vision.
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