Public-Private-People collaborative model on food waste management in metropolitan area of Thailand

บทคัดย่อ

Food waste has emerged as a critical issue in metropolitan cities globally,
including Bangkok, where it constitutes 47 percent of the total annual waste
generation. This multifaceted problem involves various stakeholders, including
the public sector, private sector, and the general public. The research aimed
to examine collaboration models among these sectors for effective food
waste management in Bangkok, Thailand. Employing a Grounded Theory
approach, data were gathered from four key informant groups: the public sector,
private sector, people sector, and academics, totaling 25 participants. The
interview process and observational surveys were carried out iteratively and
continuously in tandem with data analysis until achieving theoretical saturation.
The research findings indicated the existence of three collaborative models
for managing food waste in Bangkok: 1) Structured collaboration, 2) Loose
form of collaboration, and 3) Occasional collaboration. These collaborations
are driven by various levels of developmental direction, benefits for involved
parties, active participation of large private companies, as well as non-profit
organizations. However, challenges persist, including unclear regulations and
bureaucratic complexities, and a lack of awareness among the majority of the
population regarding reducing and separating food waste.