Exploring Potential Novel Waste Management Solutions in Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok has gone through vast and rapid development, building its infrastructure from its small town into the metropolis it is today. However, with rapid development, Bangkok’s waste management system has become obsolete and ineffective. In Bangkok, waste management consists of the basic four methods: landfill, incineration, recycling and composting. The management methods are inaccurate and slow, and have increasingly severe effects on the health of Thai citizens, waste workers, and the environment. This study will explore modern methods of waste management, which can serve as newer, faster, and cleaner alternatives, therefore more efficiently treating and sorting through waste. Overall, modern technologies present the potential to be very useful and effective. In the present day, there are various sorting machines that manipulate the properties of waste in order to separate biowaste, plastic, and metal. More prominently, the increasing accuracy of Artificial Intelligence software, like WasteNet, DETR, and EfficientDet, allow faster, more precise identification of waste. Other mechanical technology, like robotic arms, smart waste bins, and robot swarms can be utilized with Artificial Intelligence in order to improve efficiency in various stages of Thailand’s waste management cycle. Overall, while there still are some elements to improve regarding costs and efficiency of modern technology, they present high potential to be implemented in Thai society, keeping waste off the streets.