Efficiency Improvement for According to Zero Waste Management by Eco Friendly Processes by Wat-Phar Lelai Suphanburi Province

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) examine the current conditions, problems, and needs for enhancing knowledge of zero-waste management in the Wat Pa Lelai community, Suphanburi Province; 2) improve the efficiency of zero-waste management through environmentally friendly processes integrated with Buddhist principles; and 3) propose sustainable guidelines for zero-waste management development. A mixed-methods research design was employed. The quantitative sample consisted of 200 residents of the Wat Pa Lelai community. In addition, nine key informants were purposively selected, and 43 community volunteers participated in the development activities. The research instruments included a questionnaire, an interview form, a post-dialogue evaluation form, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis.

The findings revealed that: 1) the overall current condition of zero-waste management was at a high level, with social and cultural factors receiving the highest mean score. However, the major problems included unsystematic waste separation at source, inadequate understanding of the zero-waste concept, insufficient categorized waste bins, and an unclear waste collection system. Plastic and glass were the most commonly identified types of waste; 2) the integration of the zero-waste concept, the 4Rs, the Four Bases of Social Solidarity (Saṅgahavatthu), and the A-I-C process improved management efficiency. The community volunteers achieved a post-dialogue knowledge score of 88.33 percent, while their overall satisfaction was at a high level (=4.16). The process also resulted in the formulation of a zero-waste action plan, the establishment of a waste-bank network and a community learning center, the mobilization of 702,400 baht, and the creation of three local jobs; and 3) the appropriate development guidelines consisted of cultivating environmental awareness through Buddhist principles together with external incentives, expanding the waste-bank network to households and educational institutions, establishing a model community learning center, and applying technology and innovation to waste separation and processing. These approaches can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of community-based zero-waste management.