Application of By-laws and Policy Tools to Promote the Waste Separation in the Origin: Study on Local Administrative Organizations in Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

This research analyses the application of local ordinances and policy tools of local administrative organizations in Chiang Rai province for promoting waste separation at sources.

The study found that local administrative organizations encourage people to separate waste at the origin using both legal and policy tools. The main legal tools are local ordinances on solid waste management and separation. Including using the authority to reinforce waste separate policy such as launch the “No Separation No Collect” policy, set the waste collection date depending on types of waste, impose waste fee based on waste separation ability and amount of waste. Regarding policy tools, local government organizations have implemented projects educating public, encouraged domestic waste separation by establishing a waste bank and recycling market and supported special budgets for waste segregation villages. Including making a memorandum of understanding between the government and community leaders. In addition, in many areas other tools are used such as village rules and regulations which are similar to those legal tools, except do not have the legal status as the laws. The result of the study found that local regulations regarding waste separation are essential tools that should be used together with policy tools. Importantly, the redundancy of the laws and the specific conditions of each area should be considered in order to issue any local ordinances. The ordinance should specify types of waste, waste collection schedule, other alternative legal measures and explicit punishment procedures.