Guidelines for Implementing Municipal Solid Waste Management Policies by Local Administrative Organizations in Surat Thani Province.

Abstract

Solid waste management is a significant nationwide issue.Therefore, the government has established master plans, policies, and relevant laws regarding the management of solid waste to serve as a framework for efficient, ethical, and academically sound waste management practices. This research aims to Guidelines for Implementing Municipal Solid Waste Management Policies by Local Administrative Organizations in Surat Thani Province,  studying from document analysis and utilizing a questionnaire developed by the researchers based on conceptual frameworks, literature reviews, theories.

          Population comprises local government organizations in Surat Thani Province at all levels, including provincial administrative organizations, municipalities, sub-district municipalities, and sub-district administrative organizations, totaling 138 organizations. The majority of personnel responsible for solid waste management tasks are female, accounting for 57.97%. Most have completed undergraduate education, with an average work experience of 7years or more. 100% of personnel responsible have acknowledgedthe waste management policies.Local government organizations have implemented waste management policies, including upstream management (waste reduction and segregation at the source) at 90.58%, midstream management (enhanced efficiency of waste management and collection by local government organizations) at 73.19%, and downstream management (proper disposal of solid waste according to academic principles) at 59.42%. From the hypothesis testing results, it was found that factors such as knowledge, understanding, awareness of policies, plans, and guidelines, organizational characteristics, resource factors, leadership characteristics of policy implementers. Recommendations include the need for periodic evaluations of policy implementation under national-level waste management master plans and provincial-level waste management action plans each year to assess local-level implementation results, including problems, obstacles, recommendations, and developmental needs of local government organizations. Key performance indicators should be established for the annual assessment of local government organizations.