Koh Larn Landfill A Long-standing Problem and Sustainable Management Approaches

Koh Larn is a popular tourist destination in Thailand, visited by millions of tourists annually. This results in a massive amount of waste exceeding the capacity of local disposal systems, making the “Koh Larn Landfill” a significant environmental problem requiring serious management.

Main Problems of the Koh Larn Landfill:
1. Exceeding Waste Capacity:
The large number of tourists results in daily waste accumulation exceeding the landfill’s capacity for transportation and disposal.

2. Accumulated Waste Over Many Years:
The landfill has accumulated more than 40,000–50,000 tons of waste at one point, leading to foul odors, leachate, and risks to the island’s surrounding ecosystem.

3. Limited Space:
Koh Larn has a small land area, making it difficult to establish a waste disposal system or expand the landfill area.
4. Impact on the Community and Tourism:
Failure to address this issue continuously could negatively impact the island’s tourism image and the quality of life for its residents.

Management Approaches Used on Koh Larn
1. Waste Sorting and Transportation Out of the Area:
At times, waste is urgently transported back to the mainland for proper disposal, reducing accumulation in the landfill.

2. Utilization of Modern Waste Management Technology:
Many areas in Thailand, including tourist islands, have begun implementing systems such as:

Pollution-free incineration systems

Pyrolysis systems

RDF waste-to-energy plants

to reduce waste at the source and convert it into energy or alternative fuels.

3. Improving community sorting systems
Educating residents and businesses on islands helps reduce the amount of waste that needs to be incinerated or transported out of the area.

4. Collaboration between the government, community, and private sector
Multiple agencies are working together to solve the problem, such as Pattaya City, environmental agencies, and tourism operators.

Incineration systems for island and enclosed area solutions
In many Thai projects, pollution-free incineration systems, pyrolysis systems, or high-efficiency waste disposal systems are being used in limited areas, such as islands or small communities, to solve the problem of accumulated waste, as in the case of Koh Larn.

The advantages of these systems include:
Reducing waste volume by up to 90–95%
Suitable for limited areas
Reducing odor and leachate
Pollution-free if CEMS standards are controlled
Can handle large amounts of community and tourist waste.