The government has reaffirmed its intention to construct waste-to-energy plants in various communities as a solution to better deal with trash disposal problem and generate more power at the same time.

The trash-to-energy plant project is included in the government’s 2018-2037 power development plan, which is being drafted and expected be completed by the end of this month, said Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan.

The draft will be next forwarded to the Energy Policy and Planning Office for approval, he said.

“The waste-to-energy plant project is necessary and will definitely happen,” he said.

Although the community waste-to-energy plant project is designed mainly to deal with trash problem in the communities, the power plants will also generate more power for the country, he said.

Initially, the communities where waste-to-power plants will be constructed and operated are projected to be capable of altogether supplying 500 megawatts of electricity by 2036, he said.

“Thailand now has a lot of problems with waste management and the best solution here is to turn trash into electricity,” he said.

The Interior Ministry will be responsible for handling the community waste while the Energy Ministry will manage the purchase of energy produced by the communities, he said.

He assured that the community waste-to-energy plant plan won’t drive energy bills up.