Focus on food courts as Thailand moves to tackle food waste

More dedicated space needed

Chatwut Wangwon, director of health risk control at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, said densely populated areas in Bangkok and surrounding provinces lack the public space required for efficient management of food waste and excess food.

Hence, he said, the issue of food waste and excess food should be tackled at the source. This, he said, requires a change in consumer behaviour, as well as a concerted effort to recycle or give excess food to vulnerable groups.

Wijarn Simachaya, president of the Thailand Environment Institute, said the agencies and organisations involved in tackling the issue of food waste and excess food would focus their efforts on food centres across the country. The cooperation will include the following:

• Encouraging food courts and relevant premises to reduce the amount of food waste and excess food through a separation and collection system that facilitates proper utilisation and disposal

• Encouraging consumers to prevent and reduce food waste, excess food

• Educating cooks and vendors about helping prevent and reduce food waste and excess food

• Developing models and good practices to prevent and reduce food waste and excess food in food courts seen as the main source

• Driving the effort through information, regulations and communication mechanisms for concrete and widespread practice.