GUIDELINES FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN HUA NA SUBDISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, MUEANG DISTRICT, NONG BUA LAM PHU PROVINCE

Abstract

           This research aimed to study: (1) the community solid waste management practices in Hua Na Subdistrict Municipality, (2) problems and obstacles affecting community solid waste management in Hua Na Subdistrict Municipality, and (3) guidelines for improving community solid waste management in Hua Na Subdistrict Municipality. The sample group consisted of 381 residents aged 18 years and above, determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. The research instruments included a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.850 and a structured interview form. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. The qualitative data were categorized and summarized to identify key issues related to problems, obstacles, and approaches for community solid waste management. The results revealed that: 1. The overall level of community solid waste management in Hua Na Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang District, Nong Bua Lamphu Province was at a high level, with an overall mean score of 4.09 and a standard deviation of 0.60. When considering each aspect, waste collection and waste management had the highest mean score (4.20), followed by waste reduction (4.12), waste separation and utilization (4.08), reuse practices (4.05), and public participation in solid waste management, which had the lowest mean score (3.98), respectively. 2. Solid waste management in Hua Na Subdistrict Municipality faced several challenges, including increasing waste volumes due to community expansion, insufficient knowledge and cooperation among some residents regarding waste separation, improper disposal of waste in terms of time and location, as well as limitations in budgets, personnel, equipment, and waste collection vehicles. And 3. The interview findings indicated that effective waste management approaches should focus on waste reduction at the source, promoting household waste separation, increasing public knowledge and awareness, and encouraging waste utilization through practices such as recycling and producing compost from organic waste