Thailand dumps 1 million tons of waste into the sea and is one of the largest polluters in the world
The Ministry of the Environment wants to work on the estimated 1 million tons that disappear into the sea every year. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has been commissioned to make an inventory and study the consequences of small plastic particles on the ecological system, the so-called plastic soup.
Thailand is one of the top five marine polluters, responsible for 60 percent of plastic in the sea. The others are China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. Not only do they pollute, they are also responsible for the death of ocean inhabitants such as fish and turtles that mistake the plastic for food.
Water bottle seal disappears in Thailand
Do you also hate that extra seal by a piece of plastic from the cap of a water bottle? Sometimes it's difficult to peel it off, but the worst part is that many people drop that piece of plastic without even noticing, wherever they are.
Saturday morning, just like earlier this week, it was again quite a hit in the capital. At 37 locations, roads were under water (5 to 20 cm) of water. Shops near Siam Square were also flooded but Pathumwan district was worst hit with 72mm. The municipality has now installed 1.400 water pumps in the city.
Islands full of plastic in the Gulf of Thailand
They are becoming more and more common: the so-called waste islands. This time discovered off the coast of Koh Talu in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is about a kilometer long and consists of plastic bags, bottles and Styrofoam. Snorkelers saw the pile of rubbish floating and alerted the Siam Marine Rehabilitation Foundation.
The municipality of Bangkok has started cleaning the surface water after Loy Krathong. That already yielded six tons of krathongs.
Rubbish problem by mourners in Bangkok
Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang has asked people, who came to say goodbye to the late King Bhumibol, to bring plastic boxes to reduce the large amount of waste every day.
Thailand and its waste problem
Is there a waste and waste disposal problem in Thailand? Yes, POINT. Despite courageous efforts, but so sporadic, amateurish, well-intentioned, haphazard that the problem did not get smaller, but actually got bigger because the necessary budgets were wasted.
Yesterday we already wrote about the waste problem in Thailand. The island off the coast of Pattaya, Koh Larn, is a good example of this. On the Nom hill in front of the Saem beach there are 30.000 rotting rubbish and more and more are added. Three times a day, a chemical substance is sprayed against the immense stench.
Thailand dies in its own garbage
Thailand has a waste problem, the processing of household waste is lacking on many sides. Thais produce an average of 1,15 kilos of waste per person per day, a total of 73.000 tons. In 2014, the country had 2.490 landfill sites, of which only 466 are properly managed. More than 28 million tons of waste goes untreated and ends up in canals and illegal landfills.
From advertising to waste (3)
After a few days, the Tuk-Tuk hadn't moved a meter from its place. According to the Guest House site it is also a bar and restaurant, so maybe I could go there for breakfast the next morning. Some pictures on Facebook looked appetizing
Koh Samui threatened by waste
On Koh Samui people are sounding the alarm about the large amount of waste. The garbage slowly piled up because the local waste processing company has not been able to handle the large amount for 8 years. There are already some 250.000 tons of waste waiting for disposal or processing.
From advertising to waste (2)
The Tuk-Tuk continued to intrigue me. I couldn't get annoyed with it, it's too cute for that. And besides, complaining and whining won't solve anything. As with so many things: It is talked about endlessly, 'no one can do anything about it', it gets from bad to worse.
Reader question: Why can't PET bottles be made small?
We can discuss the waste policy in Thailand; if there is one! The Thai can sell paper, glass and PET bottles, they can earn a penny from that. Bravo I would say because otherwise it would be an even bigger mess here. But those PET bottles: why don't they make them small? They must be presented in their entirety?
Koh Larn in the danger zone due to waste heap
The well-known island of Koh Larn off the coast of Pattaya is in danger of coming into danger. This popular island is visited by about 10.000 tourists per day. This causes such an amount of waste that the island cannot process.
Reader question: What do you do with your old white goods in Thailand?
Following the story about the recycling of plastic and other waste materials, the question arose to me: what to do here in Thailand with your old washing machine, TV, refrigerator and the like?
News from Thailand – September 19, 2014
Today in News from Thailand:
• SCB docks; bike path around Subvarnabhumi becomes world track
• Another train derailed; seven injured
• Minister: Garbage dumps must disappear