“ECONMASS TALK” ลงพื้นที่ระยอง ศึกษาโมเดลเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียนพลาสติกสู่การพัฒนาอย่างยั่งยืน“ECONMASS TALK” Conducts Field Study in Rayong on Circular Economy Model for Sustainable Development

The FTI's Plastic Industry Group, led by Mr. Thititham Pongpanngam, Chairman of the Plastic Industry Group, along with Mr. Apipob Phuengchaiyakhun, Deputy Secretary-General, and committee members Mr. Phongsak Urajananont and Mr. Thosapol Jinanthadech, in collaboration with the Economic Journalists Association, organized the “ECONMASS TALK EP.2 #2025” event from October 3 to 4, 2025, in Rayong Province to enhance knowledge, exchange perspectives, and improve understanding of Circular Economy within the context of the Thai plastic industry.

On the first day, the group visited the SCGC recycling plant (Circular Plast Co., Ltd.) to study the comprehensive industrial recycling process, from sorting plastic raw materials and transformation to the production of high-quality recycled plastic pellets, which is a crucial approach to utilizing resources efficiently and reducing dependence on new raw materials.

Subsequently, the group visited the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), an integrated recycling material management and processing center, which serves as a prototype model for systematic waste management that integrates sorting, collection, and reintegration of recycled materials into production, aiming to reduce environmental impact and enhance economic value.

On the second day, the group had the opportunity to visit the U-Athorn Housing Project in Rayong (Wang Wa) led by Ms. Phoranee Kongamornphinyoh, Deputy Managing Director of Corporate Relations at Dow Thailand Group, who shared knowledge and provided funding support to the community. This community is recognized as a model for waste management, demonstrating effective management practices and reflecting concrete applications of Circular Economy concepts at the community level.

The highlight of U-Athorn Housing (Wang Wa) is the integration of community cooperation with systematic management, resulting in a transformation from an area previously plagued by overflowing waste, bad odors, and a lack of waste segregation into a community that efficiently manages resources, focusing on building a sustainable grassroots economy through waste management and the creation of environmentally friendly products, as well as expanding knowledge from households to the societal level.

Mr. Saiyan Ruangruang, the community leader of U-Athorn Housing, explained that the area was once full of waste issues, with trash piling up in alleys, creating unpleasant odors that disturbed the community. Initially, there was no waste separation and all households discarded their trash together in a bag, but this developed into a trial of a new waste management approach. Although faced with obstacles and opposition in the beginning, the community team's perseverance not only resulted in distributing informational documents to every household but also engaged in direct discussions and provided advice to each household, along with inspiration through sharing good examples in the community's LINE group, gradually fostering understanding and increasing community involvement.

“In the past, anyone passing by could smell the bad odor and would know they were approaching U-Athorn Housing (Wang Wa),” Mr. Saiyan recounted, further explaining the transformation process. At one point, they tried a “bin-free waste management system” but it was unsuccessful, prompting a revised plan that focused on fostering awareness and understanding rather than enforcement. The resulting outcome was serious involvement from the community members.

A significant success occurred on April 17, 2014, marking a turning point for the community. Since then, there have been continuous developments, such as the establishment of a waste bank that purchases all types of recyclable waste, encouraging everyone to perceive waste as valuable, allowing them to exchange waste for goods and earn points.

“The waste bank doesn't exchange waste for cash, but we offer household goods at better prices than local stores to encourage everyone to see the value in waste. Items like instant noodles and fish sauce can be exchanged, and points can even be used to pay for water and electricity bills,”

Currently, organic waste that was previously collected at 20–30 kilograms per day has increased to over 300–500 kilograms per day, reflecting the growing collaboration and concrete transformations.

Thus, U-Athorn Housing (Wang Wa) is not only a model community that has successfully managed its own waste issues, but it also serves as an important case study demonstrating that Circular Economy concepts can generate win-win benefits for the environment, the community, and citizen livelihoods without leaving anyone behind. Moreover, it truly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In addition to the visits and study tours, this event also created opportunities for networking between association executives, industrial operators, FTI teams, and the media to share experiences, perspectives, and collaborative approaches to advancing the Thai plastic industry towards a sustainable circular economy.

Indeed, “plastic is not the villain; if used correctly and managed systematically,” plastic can become a vital force in creating balance among economic, social, and environmental aspects, paving the way for a sustainable future together.