GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT UNDER THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY CONCEPT: A CASE STUDY OF KRABI MUNICIPALITY, MUEANG KRABI DISTRICT, KRABI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research originates from the problem of municipal solid waste management in Thailand, particularly the continuously increasing volume of waste, while upstream waste management remains limited in efficiency, resulting in residual waste accumulation and increasing burdens on downstream disposal processes. The study aims to examine the municipal solid waste management process of Krabi Municipality under the circular economy concept, analyze the factors affecting the success of sustainable solid waste management, and propose guidelines for sustainable community solid waste management under the circular economy concept. A mixed-methods research approach was employed. The quantitative research involved collecting questionnaire data from 392 residents within the Krabi Municipality area, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis through the Generalized Least Squares (GLS) method. The qualitative research consisted of in-depth interviews with 15 key informants and focus group discussions with policy-makers and waste management practitioners, with six participants in each group. The findings indicate that Krabi Municipality has a municipal solid waste management process covering upstream, midstream, and downstream stages, relying on network governance and 4P collaboration that integrates policy, technology, and public participation. The model explains 68.7 percent of the variance. Factors with statistically significant influence include waste-to-energy technology, clear waste management policies, and public participation. The research suggests that local administrative organizations should design systematic waste management policies that balance upstream waste reduction with downstream technological solutions, alongside promoting public participation and developing multi-sector collaboration mechanisms to enhance efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of waste management systems.