1-Hour Chao Phyra cleanup removes huge amount of plastic and foam

A total of 132 kilogrammes of solid waste was collected by volunteers from the Chao Phraya River after just one hour of cleaning.

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Chao Phraya clean-up shines light on litterbugs

Om Jotikasthira

A total of 132 kilogrammes of solid waste was collected from the Chao Phraya River after just one hour of cleaning in an effort initiated by private and government organisations on Saturday.

The clean-up, normally conducted annually, was held on Friday and Saturday as part of an initiative to find strategies to improve the country's waste management system.

Cleaning was conducted along a 6km stretch of the river, from Rama III Bridge to Yodpiman Flower Market.

The volunteers used BMA cleaning boats.

Among the participants were the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Eco-Capitals Forum, volunteers from Mahidol University International College (MUIC) and Bangkok University International (BUI) and the Bangkok River Partners (BRP).

The latter is a co-op consisting of various stakeholders in the Chao Phraya River and surrounding areas, including hotels, retail complexes and transport operators.

As part of the cleaning event, volunteers and representatives boarded BMA cleaning boats, where they collected floating solid waste along the river's body and nearby riverbank. Other groups were also assigned to clean nearby roads.

In contrast with previous events, this year's accumulated solid waste was separated into seven different categories, including plastic and styrofoam, according to MUIC lecturer Ditthayanan Punyaratabandhu.

She said the data collected from separating the garbage into different types will assist future discussions with participating hotels to improve waste management, such as encouraging them to stop serving water in plastic bottles.

Volunteers separated the solid waste into seven categories.

According to her, in one hour, BMA authorities and volunteers were able to collect more than 2,000 plastic bags, 700 plastic bottles and 600 plastic cups.

More than 1,300 foam pieces were also collected, she added.

"Most people wouldn't throw plastic bottles directly into the river, so when they see styrofoam or bottles in the water they don't think they are responsible for them," Ms Ditthayanan said.

"Even if people are not making the world dirtier today, every single piece of plastic that they throw away will stay in the environment for at least 450 years."

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