Local governments in Thailand are divided into thesabans (municipalities) in cities, districts, subdistricts, and provincial administrative organizations (PAOs); tambons (rural) administrative organizations (TAOs); and special administrative areas, namely Bangkok, the capital and most urbanised city, and Pattaya, the biggest international tourist destination (Nagai et al., 2007). Local governments are generally responsible for handling and managing waste in their areas (Akenji et al., 2019).
Section 50(3) of the Thesaban (Municipal) Act B.E. 2496 (1953) declares that it is the responsibility of thesaban to clean roads, pathways, and public places and rid them of waste. Section 54(11) engages the local government to improve slums and keep them clean. Some famous cities such as Phuket and Hadjai are leading municipality models, with their stable financial backgrounds and have introduced efficient methods of municipal solid waste management such as incineration. The duties of PAOs are specified in the Provincial Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2540 (1997). For tambons, the Tambon Council and Tambon Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2537 (1994) requires TAOs to keep roads, waterways, paths, and public places clean and to provide garbage and sewage services in their responsible area (Section 67[2]). As a special administrative area, Bangkok implements the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act B.E. 2528 (1985) and Pattaya implements the Pattaya City Administration Act B.E. 2542 (1999) (Administrative Court of Thailand, 2013).
Updated as of 13 January 2025.
Administrative Court of Thailand (2013), The Administrative Judge and Environmental Law. https://www.aihja.org/images/users/114/files/Congress_of_Cartagena_-_Report_of_Thailand_2013-THAILAND-EN.pdf (accessed 06 November 2019).
Akenji, L., M. Bengtsson, M. Kato, M. Hengesbaugh, Y. Hotta, C. Aoki-Suzuki, P.J.D. Gamaralalage, and C. Liu (2019), Circular Economy and Plastics: A Gap-Analysis in ASEAN Member States. Brussels: European Commission Directorate General for Environment and Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, Jakarta: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Government of Bangkok (1985), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act B.E. 2528. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:Bangkok_Metropolitan_Administration_Act,_BE_2528_(1985)/2007.08.01#c-114 (accessed 06 November 2019).
Government of Thailand (1997). Provincial Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2540 (1997). https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2540/A/062/1.PDF (accessed 18 March 2022).
Nagai, F., K. Ozaki, and Y. Kimata (2007), Analysis from a Capacity Development Perspective: JICA Program on Capacity Building of Thai Local Authorities. Tokyo: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Local governments in Thailand are divided into thesabans (municipalities) in cities, districts, subdistricts, and provincial administrative organizations (PAOs); tambons (rural) administrative organizations (TAOs); and special administrative areas, namely Bangkok, the capital and most urbanised city, and Pattaya, the biggest international tourist destination (Nagai et al., 2007). Local governments are generally responsible for handling and managing waste in their areas (Akenji et al., 2019).
Section 50(3) of the Thesaban (Municipal) Act B.E. 2496 (1953) declares that it is the responsibility of thesaban to clean roads, pathways, and public places and rid them of waste. Section 54(11) engages the local government to improve slums and keep them clean. Some famous cities such as Phuket and Hadjai are leading municipality models, with their stable financial backgrounds and have introduced efficient methods of municipal solid waste management such as incineration. The duties of PAOs are specified in the Provincial Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2540 (1997). For tambons, the Tambon Council and Tambon Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2537 (1994) requires TAOs to keep roads, waterways, paths, and public places clean and to provide garbage and sewage services in their responsible area (Section 67[2]). As a special administrative area, Bangkok implements the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act B.E. 2528 (1985) and Pattaya implements the Pattaya City Administration Act B.E. 2542 (1999) (Administrative Court of Thailand, 2013).
Updated as of 13 January 2025.
Administrative Court of Thailand (2013), The Administrative Judge and Environmental Law. https://www.aihja.org/images/users/114/files/Congress_of_Cartagena_-_Report_of_Thailand_2013-THAILAND-EN.pdf (accessed 06 November 2019).
Akenji, L., M. Bengtsson, M. Kato, M. Hengesbaugh, Y. Hotta, C. Aoki-Suzuki, P.J.D. Gamaralalage, and C. Liu (2019), Circular Economy and Plastics: A Gap-Analysis in ASEAN Member States. Brussels: European Commission Directorate General for Environment and Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, Jakarta: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Government of Bangkok (1985), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Act B.E. 2528. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:Bangkok_Metropolitan_Administration_Act,_BE_2528_(1985)/2007.08.01#c-114 (accessed 06 November 2019).
Government of Thailand (1997). Provincial Administrative Organization Act B.E. 2540 (1997). https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2540/A/062/1.PDF (accessed 18 March 2022).
Nagai, F., K. Ozaki, and Y. Kimata (2007), Analysis from a Capacity Development Perspective: JICA Program on Capacity Building of Thai Local Authorities. Tokyo: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
