Bangkok governor candidate Chadchart Sittipunt on Saturday pledged to expand community waste separation centres across the capital, while two rivals campaigned on boosting the city's street food economy.
Mr Chadchart, candidate No.9, visited Sanguan Kham community in Nong Khaem district, which he described as a model for waste separation and recycling. He met residents and outlined plans to expand waste sorting programmes across the city.
Mr Chadchart said Bangkok generates about 10,000 tonnes of waste a day, making waste management one of the capital's most pressing challenges.
He added that around half of Bangkok's waste is still sent to landfill, although city efforts to separate wet and dry waste have shown encouraging results.
About one million of the city's three million households already take part in waste separation programmes, and he pledged to expand the initiative further.
Mr Chadchart highlighted Sanguan Kham as an example of community-led waste management, where organic waste is turned into compost and recyclable materials are collected for reuse.
He said future plans would include volunteer waste separation schemes and community-based collection systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
"Waste will become an important asset in the future," he said, adding that waste separation centres in every community could generate supplementary income for residents through the sale of recyclable materials.
The candidate also pointed to improvements at Bangkok's waste facilities, including odour-control measures and expanded treatment capacity. He said the city aims to reduce landfill disposal to about 30% in the future.
Meanwhile, Pol Lt Gen Chanthep Sesawech, candidate No.12 from the Economic Party, promoted a policy to expand and regulate street food zones across Bangkok.
The former Metropolitan Police Bureau chief said street vendors play a vital role in the livelihoods of many Bangkok residents.
He proposed wider zoning areas for street food businesses, coupled with stricter enforcement of regulations to maintain order and cleanliness.
Candidate No.14 Mallika Boonmeetrakool Mahasook visited Wongwian Yai market to promote her "Street Food Paradise" policy.
She said street food is one of Bangkok's defining attractions and could drive local economic growth if managed effectively. Her proposal covers cleanliness, safety, waste management and traffic control, while expanding opportunities for small traders.
