Soil Waste and Pollution Management Program Utilizing Biomass Ash to Reduce Landfill Waste

Nakhon Ratchasima Province is a crucial agricultural region in Thailand, yet local farmers face challenges due to unfavorable soil conditions. The soil is mostly sandy loam with low fertility and a pH ranging from strongly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5-7.0) in the topsoil and very strongly acidic (pH 4.5-5.0) in the subsoil. These conditions negatively impact agricultural yields and ecosystem sustainability. Uni Power Tech Company Limited (“the Company”), operating a biomass power plant in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, recognizes this issue and aims to assist local farmers by utilizing biomass ash generated from its electricity production process to improve soil acidity. This biomass ash is a production byproduct that can be repurposed (Waste-to-Resource), aligning with the Circular Economy principles that emphasize reducing resource loss and creating value from waste. Before implementation, the Group thoroughly analyzed the quality of the biomass ash and submitted the test results of its properties to the Agricultural Production Factors Research and Development Division, Department of Agriculture, for approval. The examination revealed that the Company's biomass ash is suitable for adjusting soil acidity. It can be plowed into the soil during land preparation, approximately 20-30 days before planting, which helps increase soil pH and improve soil structure for better agriculture. Consequently, the Company initiated a project to distribute biomass ash to local farmers free of charge. Farmers can pick up the biomass ash at the Company's power plant. This project not only reduces production costs for farmers but also promotes the reuse of waste materials, thus decreasing waste volume and enhancing sustainable resource utilization.

Operating Results

In 2024, the Company distributed a total of 5,023 tons of biomass ash for soil improvement, representing a high Recycle Rate of 99.94% of all waste generated from the biomass electricity production process. This success reflects the Company's commitment to conducting business according to Circular Economy principles and its contribution to sustainable community and environmental development. The average commercial value of soil amendment is approximately 4.00 Baht per kilogram. Therefore, the total value of soil amendment using biomass ash is about 20,000 Baht per year. This project achieves 100% reduction of non-hazardous waste sent to landfill through waste reuse.