The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has toughened measures to prevent people from dumping bulky waste like old mattresses and other furniture items into waterways, part of an effort to tackle flooding as large objects have been hindering the flow of water out of the city.
Under new regulations, those who dispose of such items face a 10,000-baht fine, while a reward is being offered to anyone who helps identify dumpers.
The BMA is also arranging a regular collection service for such bulky waste, with each district designating a collection spot at a specific time of the week.
The city administration will start this month posting on its website designated pickup sites -- alternating each week, including collection times for those wanting to discard large-sized waste.
The new regulation for bulky waste follows a campaign for waste separation which is noteworthy.
While heading in the right direction, the city, where more than 10,000 tonnes of waste are generated each day, still needs to do more to ease the problem. To begin with, one designated site a week for a district, which is typically vast, is hardly enough.
The BMA must bear in mind that not many people have private vehicles. How do they remove such waste from their residences?
Also, some district offices have a history of failing to address similar issues and have not enabled their communities to handle garbage efficiently.
In order to address the issue broadly, the BMA should learn from other capitals with a successful record. Of course, there is more than one model.
London, for instance, assigns waste contractors to pick up large household items, from sofas to fridges, with a service charge per item. It's understood that the city subsidises the payment for residents with disabilities.
Meanwhile, The Hague of the Netherlands offers the service for free. Residents just have to make an appointment and do their part to ensure the unwanted item is safe, ie, removing any protruding nails, and that it's easy to be picked up.
Both cities have paid attention to recycling and reusing efforts; items in working condition can be given to those who want them. Not only does it save energy and time for those concerned, but it's also environmentally friendly.
In London, there's a network of non-profit groups, which operates through freecycle.org to help match people who want to discard household items and those wanting them.
Both the UK and the Netherlands are known for lively second-hand markets, ie, car boot sales and flea markets.
Apart from enforcing stiff regulations, the BMA should also take the role of facilitator. In doing so, the city administration should reach out to prospective partners, business entities or state agencies, and recruit them, so that this goal can be attainable.
Bangkok has an army of salaeng waste dealers who over the decades have taken an active role in waste recycling. It's time the city administration thinks of what support it could provide to this group so to enhance their ability in such a vital task.
Importantly, the city administration cannot ignore local communities. Instead, it should engage them and give them a hand. The agency must bear in mind that it needs to use both a stick and carrot approach so that its goal can be met.
