GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION THROUGH WASTE SORTING FOR RECYCLING UNDER THE LOW EMISSION SUPPORT SCHEME (LESS) A CASE STUDY : OFFICE OF ACADEMIC RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, VALAYA ALONGKORN RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY UNDER THE ROYAL PATRONAGE
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Abstract
This study aims to 1) evaluate the potential for greenhouse gas emission reduction from recyclable waste sorting activities of the Office of Academic Resources and Information Technology, and 2) analyze the efficiency of waste sorting by category based on the criteria of the Low Emission Support Scheme (LESS) of the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization. This research adopts a quantitative approach, involving 30 personnel within the organization and an average of 80–120 service users per day. The research instruments include waste sorting record forms, waste classification forms based on LESS criteria, and emission factor tables obtained from the greenhouse gas inventory database of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Data collection was conducted by weighing and recording waste types on a monthly basis throughout the year 2024 from two waste sorting points within the organization. Statistical methods used for data analysis include percentage, mean, standard deviation, one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA), and correlation analysis.
The results revealed that: 1) The total annual waste generation was 1,662.10 kg/year. General waste accounted for the highest proportion (43.10%), followed by organic waste (32.10%) and recyclable waste (25.30%). A total of 353.80 kg/year of recyclable waste was recovered, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 739.84 kgCO₂eq/year. Materials with high potential for emission reduction include plastic bottles, paper, and aluminum cans. 2) The analysis of waste sorting efficiency based on LESS criteria showed that the quantities of different waste types were significantly different (p < 0.01), and waste volume was positively correlated with the number of service users (r = 0.88). This study highlights that source separation of waste can serve as a key mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable waste management within organizations.
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