The Democrat Party has ignited a green economy movement. Korn presented a model to transform 1 million tons of food waste into a valuable resource for Thais, urging the government to stop landfill methods. Three experts shared views on turning waste into clean energy and warned about an electric vehicle spare parts crisis.
On 9 March 2026, at the Democrat Party headquarters, Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, opened a seminar titled "What is Waste: Problem or Opportunity for Thais?" He highlighted food waste as a key issue, noting that Thailand generates up to 1 million tons of food waste annually. More than half, about 500,000 tons, end up in landfills, which is wasteful and places a huge burden on the country's waste management system. The biggest concern is that Thailand faces insufficient landfill space and current landfilling lacks strict scientific controls. This leads to many side effects, including water pollution from leachate contaminating groundwater and the global warming crisis caused by methane gas emissions from waste decomposition, a potent greenhouse gas.
Korn pointed to the solution of "turning waste into benefits," aiming to shift from traditional disposal to waste treatment and conversion for useful purposes. For this seminar, the party invited experts from various fields to seek solutions. It is time for Thailand to stop viewing waste as merely a burden and instead find new ways to create value from waste for society and the economy. He also thanked the party’s Bangkok team for organizing this creative event to find solutions for the Thai people.
Three experts gathered to propose solutions addressing waste issues starting at the household level.
Professor Dr. Pisuth Piermana (Chulalongkorn University) presented innovations in waste management using advanced engineering, emphasizing a "closed system waste management model" to convert waste into valuable industrial materials, alongside pollution management to sustainably reduce environmental impact.
Associate Professor Dr. Pruk Akkaransi (Chiang Mai University) explored agricultural waste solutions, proposing a shift from polluting incineration to producing "clean energy" to generate new income for farmers and reduce regional air pollution.
Mr. Paiboon Julsaksrisakul (King Pack) shared the private sector’s perspective on the opportunity to turn plastic waste into industrial revenue. He pointed out that with efficient management, used plastics can generate significant economic value through a circular economy.
Policy recommendations emphasized "price mechanisms" and "awareness." The seminar agreed on seriously raising awareness of waste separation, with key proposals: 1. Create price differences by having government policies set higher prices for separated waste than mixed waste, providing enough incentives for citizens to change behavior at the source. 2. Establish an effective and accessible household waste management system. 3. Learn from successful international models and adapt them to Thailand’s social context.
Warning of a new crisis: "EV spare parts" and degraded batteries.
Speakers expressed concern about the growing electric vehicle (EV) sector, especially issues with "expired batteries" and old spare parts. 1. The risk of reuse: Without proper standards and expertise, reusing old or degraded batteries and parts may cause safety problems and chemical pollution. 2. Carbon law: Emphasized the critical importance of carbon legislation to drive the new industry and the need to develop it comprehensively to manage future technology waste.
Mr. Rapeepat Sumethchotimetha, former Bangkok candidate and ex-subcommittee member on energy conservation and renewable energy, coordinated this seminar and served as moderator. He revealed that greenhouse gas laws are no longer distant issues but new global rules that Thais must understand for competitive advantage and sustainable living. Whether waste becomes a burden or opportunity depends on creative policies and cooperation across sectors. The Democrat Party is ready to promote a closed system waste management model to reduce pollution and PM2.5 dust while strengthening local communities nationwide.