The three-day visit, held from Monday through Wednesday (Apr 20-22), saw Mayor Suppachoke and officials from Phuket City Municipality meet with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) departments responsible for veterinary public health and environmental services.
At the centre of the visit was a tour of the BMA Dog Control Centre in Prawet, where the delegation received briefings on stray animal management, pet registration and enforcement of relevant laws. Officials also outlined the use of microchipping and other measures to address stray dog populations in urban areas.
The delegation was welcomed by Dr Sitsapol Eiamvisut, Director of the Public Veterinary Health Office, who led discussions and shared operational insights. Phuket officials also observed the shelter system for stray dogs and cats during a field visit to the facility.
In addition to animal control, the Phuket team examined Bangkok’s waste and environmental management systems, including policies, legal frameworks and organisational structure.
Officials from the BMA Environmental Department presented an overview of the capital’s waste situation and outlined initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and public participation. These included the ‘No Mixing Waste at Home’ campaign, which promotes waste separation at source, and the use of the BKK Waste Pay application for fee collection.
Discussions also covered implementation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s waste management fee ordinance and compliance with the Public Health Act B.E. 2568.
As part of the study tour, the delegation visited a model community in Thawi Watthana District participating in the ‘This House Doesn’t Mix Waste’ project to observe how residents engage in waste separation to reduce disposal fees.
The group also toured a large-scale waste-to-energy incineration facility at the Nong Khaem Waste Disposal Centre, which processes at least 1,000 tonnes of waste per day, and the On Nut Organic Fertiliser Composting Plant, where organic waste from across Bangkok is managed.
Mayor Suppachoke said Bangkok’s integrated approach to waste and animal management offered valuable insights for Phuket, noting similarities in urban context between the two cities.
He said the knowledge gained from the visit would be used to develop strategic plans and improve service delivery in Phuket City Municipality, particularly in areas of waste management, environmental protection and control of stray animals.
“We will apply the lessons learned to suit Phuket’s context and strengthen our long-term development planning,” he said.