Social and institutional feasibility of recycling nutrients in waste in Southern Thailand

Abstract

The social and institutional feasibility of recycling plant nutrients in waste in three case study areas, Phattalung, Kuan Lang and Prik, in Southern Thailand has been studied. Three sanitation systems (existing with modifications and alternative) in each area have been evaluated with respect to their acceptance among the local stakeholders and accommodation within the Thai legal framework. Culturally, most proposed recycling methods were accepted by local users, and great interest was expressed towards many of the proposed sanitation systems, except recycling methods involving direct contact with human excreta in Prik (Islamic culture). The three existing systems were assessed to be the most convenient and practical among the nine, due to their low maintenance requirement and the low user fees. The proposed modified and alternative sanitation systems involved higher public participation and thereby a change in the understanding of where the responsibility of managing people’s waste products should be placed. Institutionally all nine sanitation systems were accepted by local administrators and all recycling systems were well accommodated within the Thai legal framework. Thus recycling plant nutrients in waste seem both social and institutionally acceptable in Southern Thailand.