Model of electronic waste management for eastern economic corridor

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the household electronic waste (e-waste) management in Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong provinces, and recommend the appropriate model of household e-waste management for EEC, notably at the policy level. This research was qualitative research by analyzing situations, problems, and impacts from household e-waste management in the three provinces between 2016-2019, with the concept of Pressure-State-Response (PSR). After that, evaluate the household e-waste management in the three provinces with the CIPP-I Model, documentary research, request information, non-participant observation, and in-depth interview by semi-structured interview with 27 key informants by purposive sampling. They were executives, policymakers, e-waste experts, state enterprises in electrical and electronic manufacturing companies, and e-waste sorting or recycling plants in industrial estates. Data analysis used the content and grouping analysis. The evaluation results were used for SWOT Analysis and TOW Matrix to acquire the factors impacting the management and guidelines of household e-waste in the three provinces and use them to develop the model of household e-waste management for EEC. The evaluation form conducted the draft model testing with 55 assessors covering the former interviewees and residents in EEC.

The findings revealed that only Rayong provincial administrative organization collected household e-waste from local administrative organizations (LAOs) at the Rayong Integrated Solid Waste Management Center and sent e-waste to the private disposal site outside the EEC areas. People thought that the e-waste sorting was the responsibility of LAOs. LAOs motivated people to realize the importance of sorting e-waste by collaborating with the relevant local government agencies and the private sector in the collection process, namely installing drop-off points in private establishments. The drop-off points were installed in all communities. However, e-waste was discarded and mixed with general solid waste, contamination of heavy metals in soil, surface water, and groundwater, foul smell from sorting and recycling factories operating with improper methods, causing dizziness to the people living near the factories. Some could not bear the smell and had to move out, especially in Chachoengsao and Chonburi. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Volunteers (NEV) were established. Employment and income were generated for local junk shops.

The appropriate model of household e-waste management in the three provinces of EEC for LAOs and relevant agencies according to the CIPP-I framework consisted of Context: submit the comprehensive plan on household e-waste management in EEC to the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO), set up a center for services and repair learning of household electrical and electric equipment. Input: provide services to collect large-sized e-waste at people’s homes, prepare the list of e-waste disposal companies in EEC, and provide enough personnel and budget for household e-waste management in each LAO. Process: the construct of community model, improve public relations to attract interest for people. Product: add the appropriate drop-off points with a sign at all areas, send collected household e-waste for disposal plants in EEC at priority. Impact: promote new e-waste disposal plants in industrial estates in EEC, support the local networks to monitor e-waste management situations, such as NEV-Net or Local Environmental Volunteer Network (LEV-Net), and support junk shops to receive a permit for health-hazardous operation.