Participatory Action Research on Garbage Sorting of a Ban-Eua-Arthon Condominium, Samutprakan Province

Abstract

This participatory action research aimed to study garbage sorting problems of a Ban-Eua-Arthon condominium, Samutprakan province, to develop an activity program to encourage garbage sorting participation, and to assess outputs of the program. The qualitative data were collected using a focus group discussion of 15 condominium juristic committee members. The quantitative data were collected from the records of garbage sorting weight and a number of participated households at the community garbage sorting station. The study included 3 phases; the phase of before developing the activity program, the phase of activity program development and implementation (a 6-month program), and the phase of output assessment after finishing the program. The analysis of quantitative data using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using content analysis was performed. The results revealed that:

1. The garbage sorting problems included having mixed garbage over the storage bins, no garbage sorting and bad smell.

2. After the participatory meeting of the juristic committee members, the activity program was developed consisting of public relations, establishment of garbage sorting station, preparing of a grid cage for recycling garbage, procuring of garbage bins for general, organic and hazardous garbage, garbage sorting weight record forms, and use of marketing strategy.

3. After finishing the program, the results showed that the households’ participation for garbage sorting was 43.55%. The garbage weight average was 334.65 grams per month consisting of 53.79% of recycle garbage, 26.69% of general garbage and 19.27% of organic garbage. Regarding qualitative data, there were the household participation for garbage sorting, the utilization of the sorted garbage, marketing strategy usage to encourage participation and the head of juristic committee playing an important role in the program implementation.

          The implication of this study needs to be considered for carrying on the program continuously and expanding the implementation of the program for other Ban-Eua-Arthon condominiums.