Report on AUICK Associate Cities
Khon Kaen, Thailand

Reported by Mr. Chawalit Hongyon, Chief, Garbage and Waste Disposal Section, Sanitary Work Division, Khon Kaen Municipality, Thailand

Background

Located in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province is centrally located in the Northeast of Thailand. The tropical/semi tropical climate and flat topography make it suitable for a wide range of crops, although at times it has suffered from both droughts and floods.

Administration and Revenue

Khon Kaen Municipal Council has 24 elected members and it is responsible for the budget and for ordinances. The Mayor of Khon Kaen determines policies, presents recommendations to council, and supervises overall administration.

Main Challenges Facing the City

Solid Waste Generation:
In the Khon Kaen Municipality, about 70% of waste is deposited at one disposal site in the north of the city. Landfill sites are almost full and Khon Kaen has recognized the need to sort waste and recycle. The city has been learning new technology, from countries such as France, Japan and Germany, for producing bio-gas from garbage and converting it to fertilizer, which can then be sold. During the next five years, Khon Kaen Municipality will implement a project for a Garbage Sorting Station, which will be used to sort and recycle most of the city’s waste. The remaining 20% of unrecyclable garbage will be burnt.

Education:
Educational reform is an important policy in Khon Kaen. In the past, students have followed the generic lessons that teachers have assigned. The learning process has now been reformed, both through the central government and local policies. Learning outside the classrooms is the new technique, and it is designed to allow students to learn on topics of interest, through direct experience. We believe that students have different abilities and aptitudes for learning. The role of teachers is to be facilitators: to instruct students but also find out their unique talents. Teachers can then cater to the education of students according to each individual’s interests and talents. Another aspect of the reformed policy is the benefit of integrated education; we can connect subjects, and do so outside of the classroom. Khon Kaen Municipality has also supported the policy of supplying outdoor resources for education. The city has a local museum, a science museum, and playgrounds for children to learn through interaction with nature. Outdoor learning encourages students to learn happily and naturally. We have also included education on garbage and polluted water management in the curriculum; this is to inform students of the problems caused by pollution and to encourage them to become more community-minded.

Role and Relationship with AUICK

Khon Kaen’s participation in 9 AUICK trainings since 1996 has widened our options for addressing urban problems. KKM hopes that in the future we can share ideas about education and solid waste management with AACs and AUICK. We also hope to be able to draw the attention and participation of specialists in administrative processes to our city. KKM has appointed Mr. Wittaya Tharnchai, Deputy Municipal Clerk, as the Liaison Officer for AUICK.

Other Information

For the potential of KKM, the administrators are aware of, and ready for, decentralization. To develop our city effectively, we are working cooperatively with local people, private and government departments, and foreign organizations to share ideas, experiences and knowledge.