Implementing Pay-As-You-Throw in Bangkok: Governance, Public Acceptance, and Environmental Prospects and Challenges

Urban centers in the Global South face mounting pressures to adopt circular economy strategies while maintaining the legitimacy of emerging policy instruments. This study examines Bangkok’s forthcoming implementation of a household waste separation fee, which will make it the first megacity in Southeast Asia to adopt a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) system in October 2025. Drawing upon household survey data, the analysis investigates how perceptions of fairness, levels of trust in municipal authorities, and environmental awareness influence citizen acceptance. A scenario-based assessment suggests that effective implementation has the potential to reduce municipal solid waste by up to 30% and generate substantial fiscal savings, whereas ineffective rollout would yield marginal environmental gains. The findings highlight the critical role of governance arrangements, institutional credibility, and socioeconomic diversity in shaping compliance with urban environmental regulations. By situating Bangkok’s PAYT initiative within broader debates on urban sustainability transitions, the paper provides timely insights and policy-relevant lessons for other rapidly urbanizing cities in the Global South pursuing circular economy reforms. JEL Classification: Q53; Q58; R11; D62; H23; D04