Turning waste into solutions: AIT maps Southeast Asia’s pollution challenge
video: From Thailand's textile plants to open waste burning across the region, five studies of Asian Institute of Technology reveal how discarded resources and hidden pollutants threaten health and ecosystems — and the technologies that can help turn the tide.
Credit: Asian Institute of Technology
Bangkok, Thailand - 16 Jan 2026
Waste and pollution are no longer background issues for Southeast Asia — they are reshaping the region's environment and public health every day. New research led by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) highlights the scale of the challenge: toxic smoke from waste burning, invisible microplastics slipping through wastewater plants, and construction debris piling up in landfills. But the studies also point to practical strategies - from converting waste into building materials and energy, to pioneering treatment systems for cleaner water.
Turning waste into value
Construction waste and discarded glass often end up in landfills. AIT researchers have shown these can be repurposed into geopolymer soil solidifiers strong enough to meet Thailand's Type 3 construction soil standard (exceeding 160 kN/m²), offering a greener alternative to conventional binders.
Wastewater sludge, another neglected byproduct, was tested in an osmotic microbial fuel cell (OsMFC). The system reduced sludge volume by up to 67% across multiple operational cycles while generating bioelectricity, showing how treatment plants could simultaneously stabilize sludge and recover energy.
Exposing the hidden cost of open burning
Across Southeast Asia, around 15% of municipal waste is still burned in open piles. AIT's field experiments showed this practice releases 482 nanograms of dioxins per kilogram of waste and contributes to an estimated 5.3 kilograms of highly toxic dioxins and 669,400 kilograms of cancer-linked chemicals every year across the region. The research gives policymakers the clearest picture yet of the health and environmental toll of uncontrolled burning.
Tracking microplastics in water
In Thailand's textile industry, AIT researchers found 590–601 microplastic particles in just one cubic meter of water - the equivalent of hundreds of invisible plastic fragments in a household fish tank. Despite treatment, thousands of particles escape daily into canals and rivers, underscoring the industry’s contribution to global plastic leakage.
Next-generation clean water solutions
Looking ahead, AIT reviewed hybrid membrane–electrochemical technologies that remove over 90% of stubborn pollutants like pharmaceuticals and "forever chemicals.”These technologies could provide the next wave of clean water treatment as conventional plants struggle with emerging contaminants.
From data to decisions: AIT's regional role
Together, these studies chart a comprehensive resource story for Asia:
- Construction waste turned into sustainable soil binders.
- Wastewater sludge stabilized and generating electricity.
- Open burning quantified as a major hidden source of toxins.
- Textile industry plants shown to leak hundreds of microplastics per cubic meter.
- Hybrid water technologies removing over 90% of emerging contaminants.
“Communities don't face waste and pollution in isolation - they breathe the smoke, drink the water, and live with the debris all at once," said [AIT spokesperson]. "Our research provides the data and the innovations that governments and industries need to respond.”
With public health, ecosystems, and resources at stake, AIT is positioning itself as a regional hub for waste and pollution solutions - linking local evidence with scalable technologies to help Asia build a more sustainable future.