The objective of this research is to study the development of thoughts about environmental waste cooperation and material consumption in a Bangkok community In the past 50 years. The thesis examines development of social features which result in the change and standstill of these thoughts leading to an understanding of waste phenomena In the present community. The community under study is located in Thonburi, Bangkok and has been settled for more than 50 years. Key informants were selected by their knowledge related to the development of society and culture, environmental waste cooperation and material consumption. The fieldwork duration was 7 months (from April, 1993 to October, 1993) . Sources of data include relevant government reports, life history, indepth interviews, direct and participant observation. This study found that the change in society, culture, environment and population In the community during the past 50 years results from the development of the mode of production. This change can be seen in the objective of production in the community (from subsistence to trade and profit). This change demonstrates relationship between the community and the broader society which develops in to higher dependency. This relationship is reflected in the growth of the structure of the mode of production in the broader society. Environmental waste cooperation changed during the last 50 years resulting increased alienation. This is due to the change in community composition resulting in a breakdown in community cooperation. Moreover, the increased separation from the natural environment results in alienation in environmental waste participation. In the past waste elimination was a self, family, and community responsibility. This has presently changed to a almost total dependence on the market society. The development of thoughts about consumption has changed from the self, family, and community reliance to that of market dependency. During the process of the community change, material consumption Increased because of the expanding market economy. Changes in the value of consumption from functional utilization to signifiers of "modernization". Market dependency and modernization results in the accumulation of waste in society. The recommendation from this study are : (1) the process of development should reconsider past experience to plan more appropriately for the future. (2) Provide knowledge on every processes of waste accumulation problems and plans to solve the problems appropriate to the community. (3) Using the community organization to solve such problems. And (4) a need for more urban anthropological studies.