Addressing Waste Management in Fresh Markets in Thailand

Abstract

Fresh markets or wet markets function as important places for exchanging food stuffs and meeting of local people in many emerging economies. Through many activities in fresh markets, solid waste is substantially generated and becomes a main environmental issue. In Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, solid waste in fresh markets emerges as an environmental issue with potentials to be improved. Selecting two fresh markets with different ownerships in Ubon Ratchathani, the concepts of waste hierarchy and triad-network model were applied to study and compare ways to improve solid waste management systems. Through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, this research reveals that solid waste managements of the two markets are centrally organized by the owners with the emphasis on tidiness with little involvements from other actors. To improve waste managements, moving beyond legal requirements and engaging relevant actors are essential. It is also found that different ownership (public vs. private) affects how fresh markets can organize improvement strategies.