IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i24p11181-d1548194.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhanced Landfill Mining in Thailand: Policy Implications from Qualitative Case Study Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Anupong Muttaraid

    (The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
    Center of Excellence on Energy Technology and Environment (CEE), Ministry of Higher Education Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok 10140, Thailand)

  • Sirintornthep Towprayoon

    (The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
    Center of Excellence on Energy Technology and Environment (CEE), Ministry of Higher Education Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok 10140, Thailand)

  • Chart Chiemchaisri

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand)

  • Thapat Silalertruksa

    (Department Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand)

  • Komsilp Wangyao

    (The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
    Center of Excellence on Energy Technology and Environment (CEE), Ministry of Higher Education Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Bangkok 10140, Thailand)

Abstract

Limited landfill capacity and increasing waste production present obstacles for the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Thailand, where 7.1 million tons of MSW were non-sanitarily managed in 2022. This provides an opportunity for the nation to recover valuable materials and energy from landfill waste through excavation by implementing the enhanced landfill mining technique, which is consistent with business sustainability goals. This study evaluates regulatory, financial, and institutional challenges to enhanced landfill mining implementation, identifying key barriers such as Thailand’s restriction on using refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in waste-to-energy (WtE) projects, despite its higher calorific value (18–24 MJ/kg compared to 13.7–16.6 MJ/kg for fresh MSW-derived RDF). Case studies, particularly from European nations, are comparatively evaluated using a combination of qualitative analysis methods. The results of this study highlight that the potential of enhanced landfill mining in Thailand is restricted by the prohibition of the use of RDF in WtE projects, as well as a lack of financial incentives to follow existing regulations. This demonstrates that the implementation of enhanced landfill mining could be facilitated by changing Thai regulations to permit the use of RDF in WtE projects and providing financial incentives such as tax credits and feed-in tariffs. Implementing such reforms can help Thailand achieve its sustainability objectives while reducing the amount of waste in landfills and generating energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Anupong Muttaraid & Sirintornthep Towprayoon & Chart Chiemchaisri & Thapat Silalertruksa & Komsilp Wangyao, 2024. "Enhanced Landfill Mining in Thailand: Policy Implications from Qualitative Case Study Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:24:p:11181-:d:1548194
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/24/11181/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/24/11181/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cappelli, Federica & Guastella, Gianni & Pareglio, Stefano, "undated". "Institutional Fragmentation and Urbanisation in the EU Cities," FACTS: Firms And Cities Towards Sustainability 305212, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) > FACTS: Firms And Cities Towards Sustainability.
    2. Dek Vimean Pheakdey & Nguyen Van Quan & Tran Dang Khanh & Tran Dang Xuan, 2022. "Challenges and Priorities of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Cambodia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-27, July.
    3. Jamil, Abd Rahim Md. & Law, Siong Hook & Mohamad Khair-Afham, M.S. & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2023. "Financial inclusion and economic uncertainty in developing countries: The role of digitalisation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 786-806.
    4. Ismaila Rimi Abubakar & Khandoker M. Maniruzzaman & Umar Lawal Dano & Faez S. AlShihri & Maher S. AlShammari & Sayed Mohammed S. Ahmed & Wadee Ahmed Ghanem Al-Gehlani & Tareq I. Alrawaf, 2022. "Environmental Sustainability Impacts of Solid Waste Management Practices in the Global South," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, October.
    5. Sunusi Usman & Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis & Khozirah Shaari & Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai & Mohd Zamri Saad & Nurulfiza Mat Isa & Muhammad Farhan Nazarudin, 2022. "The Burden of Microplastics Pollution and Contending Policies and Regulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Santa Margarida Santos & Catarina Nobre & Paulo Brito & Margarida Gonçalves, 2023. "Brief Overview of Refuse-Derived Fuel Production and Energetic Valorization: Applied Technology and Main Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Sónia Monteiro & Fátima David & Francisco M. Somohano-Rodríguez, 2023. "The Waste Hierarchy at the Business Level: An International Outlook," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Asif Iqbal & Abdullah Yasar & Abdul-Sattar Nizami & Rafia Haider & Faiza Sharif & Imran Ali Sultan & Amtul Bari Tabinda & Aman Anwer Kedwaii & Muhammad Murtaza Chaudhary, 2022. "Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Haulage Modeling Design for Lahore, Pakistan: Transition toward Sustainability and Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-39, December.
    4. Aamir Aijaz Syed & Assad Ullah & Muhammad Abdul Kamal, 2024. "Does economic policy uncertainty impedes financial inclusion in BRICS economies: the mediating role of quality of governance," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Maria Antoniadou, 2024. "Integrating Lean Management and Circular Economy for Sustainable Dentistry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-25, November.
    6. Puthearath Chan, 2024. "Cambodian Green Economy Transition: Background, Progress, and SWOT Analysis," World, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-40, June.
    7. Thomas Akintayo & Juha Hämäläinen & Pertti Pasanen & Iniobong John, 2023. "A Rapid Review of Sociocultural Dimensions in Nigeria’s Solid Waste Management Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Mahendra Aryal & Sanju Adhikary, 2024. "Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Valentin Marian Antohi & Romeo Victor Ionescu & Monica Laura Zlati & Catalina Iticescu & Puiu Lucian Georgescu & Madalina Calmuc, 2023. "Regional Regression Correlation Model of Microplastic Water Pollution Control Using Circular Economy Tools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    10. Renata Činčikaitė, 2024. "Assessment of Sustainable Waste Management: A Case Study in Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-14, December.
    11. Yunisa Zahrah & Jeongsoo Yu & Xiaoyue Liu, 2024. "How Indonesia’s Cities Are Grappling with Plastic Waste: An Integrated Approach towards Sustainable Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-32, May.
    12. Carlos Fernando Gonzales-Ortiz & Apolonia Rodríguez-Gonzales & Katja Radon & María Teresa Solís-Soto, 2025. "Development of a Project to Strengthen Environmental Education in Educational Institutions in Bolivia: “Environmental Care with a One Health Approach”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-13, April.
    13. Mylene G. Dinglasan Ed. D & Carmencita M. Duenas Ed. D, 2024. "Solid Waste Management Practices of Philippine Christian University-Manila," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(2), pages 990-995, February.
    14. Mukilan Poyyamozhi & Balasubramanian Murugesan & Narayanamoorthi Rajamanickam & Ramalingam Senthil & Mohammad Shorfuzzaman & Waleed Mohammed Abdelfattah, 2024. "Enhancing Power and Thermal Gradient of Solar Photovoltaic Panels with Torched Fly-Ash Tiles for Greener Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-22, September.
    15. Olimpia Smaranda Mintaș & Daniela Camelia Marele & Alina Stefania Stanciu & Adrian Gheorghe Osiceanu & Alina Stanca Osiceanu & Horia Pop & Teodor Rusu, 2025. "Sustainability of the Integrated Waste Management System: A Case Study of Bihor County, Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-35, March.
    16. Sapta Suhardono & Chun-Hung Lee & I Wayan Koko Suryawan, 2025. "Influence of adaptive management indicators on willingness to adapt to single-use plastic ban," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 27(3), pages 431-454, July.
    17. Mirosław Szyłak-Szydłowski & Wojciech Kos, 2025. "Odorous Emissions During the Use of the Intermediate Fraction as an Additive to the Green Waste Composting Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, January.
    18. Jain, Harshita, 2024. "From pollution to progress: Groundbreaking advances in clean technology unveiled," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    19. Jose Alejandro Aristizábal Cuellar & Elkin Puerto-Rojas & Sharon Naomi Correa-Galindo & Myriam Carmenza Sierra Puentes, 2025. "A Community-Based Intervention Proposal for Municipal Solid Waste Management: Analyzing Willingness, Barriers and Spatial Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-21, July.
    20. John Bentil & Seth Braimah & Anthony Frank Obeng, 2024. "Solid Waste Management in Higher Educational Institution: An Investigation Using the SWOT Analysis and the Circular Economy Principle Perspective," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 1249-1267, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:24:p:11181-:d:1548194. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.