In an interview with the Phuket Post, Khun Meena Panun, official from the Patong Municipality called upon the people of Patong and surrounding areas to join the garbage recycling movement that has been underway since the end of the year 2006. The project was inaugurated on December 4, the Thai environment day.

Concerned about the growing amounts of garbage being accumulated in the the tourist hot-spot, and the social and environmental consequences thereof, Patong Municipality set up the drive to educate and recruit locals as part of the solution.

As part of the drive, Patong Municipality commits to buying garbage that can be recycled- such as hard paper boxes, plastic bottles, glass bottles- which is then sold to the Phuket Municipality which in turn forwards it to recycling plants. The drive so far, says Khun Meena has received a good response, and has grown to the point where special staff has been allocated to exclusively monitor the project.

“When we started the project, we were selling the collected recyclable garbage to Phuket Municipality once a month, but now, with the growing success of the project, we have been accumulating enough to deliver twice a week,” Khun Meena informed the Post. “ The project has been gaining steady popularity with more and more people joining everyday. However, I think there are still some people who are unaware of this project and I would like to spread this message and invite them to help keep our city and environment clean, while also earning an income.”

Khun Meena told the Post that buoyed by the success of their first project, Patong municipality has been introducing more projects including private companies and hotels to reach out to a larger section of people. Projects include decreasing the use of electric energy and more effective management of resources such as water, citing the example of hotels like the Royal Paradise Hotel, which has been helping the municipality in its drive by using timers in order to auto-shut machinery and electrical implements such as airconditioners, and promoting the re-use of towels, aprons,bedspreads among their guests to save water.

“We are keen to promote eco-friendly practices among our people, to help solve the global environmental crisis that is upon us at this time,” said Khun Meena.

Interested persons can sell collected recyclable garbage at the Patong Municipality premises between 10.00 -11.00 am Monday – Friday.