Thailand Multi-Million Baht Recyclable Material Firm Began with Everyday Junk.

Byline: Charoen Kittikanya

Dec. 6--Many people throw money away without thinking twice, says a former small-time scrap collector who turned everyday junk into the launch-pad for a multi-million baht enterprise.

After completing secondary school 30 years ago, Somthai Wongcharoen decided to leave and start his own business, which he described as "honest, sustainable self-employment".

The former newspaper boy has come a long way, transforming an operation based on one tricycle junk cart into a 50-million-baht garbage separation plant on 6.5 rai in Phitsanulok province. The business, Wongpanit Group, has 26 smaller plants serving a 600 member network nationwide that buys recyclable materials.

The 26 branch operations were established at costs ranging from 100,000 baht to 10 million baht each. Mr Somthai owns six plants, while the rest are operated by franchisees.

The Phitsanulok plant, which has 100 employees, buys at least 100 different kinds of waste totalling 32,000 tons a year, mainly plastic, paper, metal and glass bottles. Other waste purchased includes coconut husks, used auto batteries, plastic slippers and boots. About 20 percent of the recycled materials is exported, mainly to China, with the rest sold on the domestic market.

"I believe the recyclable waste business is worth more than 100 billion baht a year. Business opportunities are enormous, as the modern way of life and economic growth are generating an increasing amount of household and commercial waste," Mr Somthai said.