The Zero Waste Village Project
Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited
INTRODUCTION
The Zero Waste Village Project focuses on improving the operationality of an existing recycle bank of Nongtapan municipality, in Rayong Province – strategic eastern economic area of Thailand. Five years into the operation, the bank started facing a continuous decline in profit for its members and overall participation. In line with their CSR framework that emphasises on social investment towards sustainability, GPSC provided a dedicated team to help in expanding membership network, designing a financially sustainable reward programme for members to extend the membership lifetime, and optimising operating costs, all to ensure the survival the bank operation.The Zero Waste Village Project aims to promote recycling habit and correct waste management to residents while encouraging their participation through communal financial benefits. The project performance is measured across four dimensions: Municipal Solid Waste Reduction within the community (kg.), GHG Reduction (tCoE), Community engagement (number of participating active members), Financial Self-Sustainability (Positive Operating Cashflow).
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
GPSC conducted 3-month’s field survey by performing the role as bank staff in sorting, buying, storing, reselling recyclables. The result from the survey was used to develop the prototype flow optimisation and tool development. After trials, staff were asked to give feedback to be incorporated in the facility renovation concept, tool requirement, and investment estimation.The Zero Waste Village Project is integrated into GPSC’s business in two ways. Firstly, they increase their recycling performance because the waste is sent directly to the Bank who resells it to recycling plants, as a result, profitting from these free recyclables. Secondly, the project is directly connected to the Bank’s Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) business as they can dispose off the non-recyclable plastic at their RDF plant for energy creation back into the community – this seamless circular model is under study and planned to be implemented within 2019.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
Since its inception to date, the Nongtaphan Recycle Bank has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 7.12 tCoe, the calculation is based on Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (Public Organisation), maintained 70 active members, and recycled 4,098.12 kg. of waste.The project has created six part-time job positions at the bank which equals to average of 4,800THB/month as extra income for the retirees. The revenues for the members during Q1 2019 was 8,948 THB. In addition, more residents will be trained to implement an end-to-end solution of waste management at home for all categories of wastes; using organic waste as agent to improve soil properties, recycling wastes, upcycling waste (upcoming), and waste-to-energy through RDF facility.
FUTURE DIRECTION
The Nongtapan recycle bank is envisioned to be the community’s learning center for the residents in the village as well as neighboring municipalities about holistic and environmentally-sustainable waste management methodology.The first priority is to design and renovate existing facility for learning center and storage, to expand membership, and increase overall financial feasibility. The second priority is to implement continuous monitoring tools to optimise operation, environmental impact, and membership programme management to ensure that timely intervention such as marketing campaign or trading prices can be timely adjusted to ensure the overall profitability of the bank – all to be managed on a single cloud-based platform from any mobile devices, anywhere, anytime.
Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited (GPSC) is the power flagship of PTT Group, committed to energy security in support of growth of PTT Group and other industries. GPSC produces and distributes public utility as its core business. The Company is both the operator and investor. As of December 31, 2018, GPSC has investment in 14 companies with operation in 4 countries. In 2018, a total generating capacity of 1,851 MW of electricity; thereafter GPSC has acquired more to have 1,922 MW of committed electricity, 1,582 tons per hour of steam, 2,080 cubic meters per hour of industrial water and 12,000 refrigeration tons of chilled water.
