ERIA, IGES, Rare | Breaking the Plastic Habit in ASEAN: Behaviour-Centred Interventions for Lasting Plastic Reduction
The plastic pollution crisis in Southeast Asia is reaching a critical tipping point, with plastic waste projected to nearly quadruple in some countries by 2050. While traditional policies and single-use plastic bans are an important start, the report Breaking the Plastic Habit in ASEAN reveals that behavioural insights are the essential missing piece to bridge […]
Surat Thani’s Pathway to Waste Bank Success
Case Study Thailand: Surat ThaniWWF Involvement: January 2023 to December 2024Focus Area: CollectionPSC Approach: Community-based Waste ManagementSystemic Intervention: Systems and Infrastructure Key Lessons Learned Background Lung Dum waste bank started in the Wat Potawas Temple Community of Surat Thani, Thailand. Founded by the community leader Mr. Lapon Phuekdej, also known as “Lung Dum” or “Uncle […]
Hat Yai’s Mall Take-Back Programme
Case Study Thailand: Hat YaiWWF Involvement: October 2023 to October 2025Focus Area: CollectionPSC Approach: Formal CollectionSystemic Intervention: Policy Advocacy Key Lessons Learned Background In order to move away from mixed collection and enhance plastic recovery from the waste generated at Hat Yai’s Central Mall, the shopping mall adopted a “take-back” programme in October 2023, set […]
Pak Meng School Cashes in on Waste
Case Study Thailand: Trang City, Trang ProvinceWWF Involvement: January 2023 to March 2025Focus Area: Reduction, CollectionPSC Approach: Behavioural Change, Community-based Waste ManagementSystemic Intervention: Knowledge Strengthening, Systems & Infrastructure Key Lessons Learned Background Pak Meng School in Trang, Thailand, piloted a holistic approach to plastic waste management from initiating educational activities for the reduction of plastic […]
Trang Municipality Establishes its First Informal Waste Workers Network
The initiative aims to better integrate informal waste workers (known as “saleng” in Thai) to into formal recycling systems, strengthen public–private partnerships, and promote sustainable waste practices across the city. 1 June 2025 — Trang’s first informal waste workers network – locally referred to as the Saleng Network – was launched on 29 May 2025 […]
WWF-Thailand | Thailand Plastic-Free School Manual
From Plastic Smart Cities to Plastic Free School Programme. From the Plastic Smart Cities project to the extension of the concept and goal of nurturing children and youth, it has expanded into the Plastic Free School Programme, which was organized under 10 pilot schools in Surat Thani Municipality and Koh Samui Municipality in 2024. The […]
Songkhla’s Fishing Community Takes Lead in Enhancing Waste Management Systems in Coastal Areas
As a fishing community, protecting the sea’s biodiversity isn’t just a duty – it’s a way of life. In a groundbreaking stride toward coastal conservation, the Ban Phang Sai Community in Songkhla, Thailand, is demonstrating its leadership in scaling community-led environmental stewardship. Traditionally a fishing community, Ban Phang Sai not only pioneered a waste management […]
Community Generates Funds from Selling Recyclables through a Waste Bank Initiative
The separation of waste at source is supported through the provision of segregation bins to collect recyclable waste, which is sold to recyclers – this intervention generates income for the community from waste sorting. KEY SUCCESSES As of November 2023, the community has sold recyclable waste to the junk shop five times, totalling 1,195 kilograms […]