Waste management by people in the community according to the Buddhist psychology

Abstract

This research paper aims to: 1. study the Buddhist psychological factors related to waste management by people in the community of Sa Krachom Sub-district, Don Chedi District, Suphanburi Province, and 2. propose a guideline on waste management according to the Buddhist psychology for people in community. Qualitative field data was collected from 22 key informants consisting of community leaders and villagers in Tambon Sa Krachom, Amphoe Don Chedi, Suphanburi Province. The data was analyzed and presented in descriptive details The result found that 1. Buddhist-psychological factors related to waste management by people in the community consist of mindful consumption, living with right mindfulness, and practicing the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy which can be used as a framework for effective waste management. This is because the sufficiency economy philosophy emphasizes that producers or consumers must put their effort to produce or consume with mindfulness while considering of the availability of income or resources as priority and mindfulness helps people to continue doing so. The principles encourage people to reduce their requirement for unnecessary things, minimize waste generation, and increase the ability to control production. 2. Waste management by people in the community according to Buddhist psychology consists of 1) mindful consumption 2) living with right mindfulness and 3) following the philosophy of sufficiency economy. Those 3 components are factor leading waste management according to circular economy and waste management reform by people in the community. The process starts from raising awareness and building knowledge so that people in the community realize the waste problems and their impact and work together to solve the problems that affect themselves and the community. Importantly, with knowledge and morality that strengthen this framework, waste management promises to be more practical and sustainable.