Wastes halved at Sanam Luang

BANGKOK, Dec 4 (TNA) – The amount of garbage at Sanam Luang, where local mourners are lining up to pay their respects to the late king, has been reduced by half following the launch of an effective waste management program. A number of Thai mourners,wearing black are still flocking to the Grand Palace in Bangkok in order to pay their respects to their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej who passed away on Oct 13. Nonetheless, massive garbage left by the mourners at the site drew public attention and concern. Mr Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, director of the Volunteers for Dad coordination center, said the center’s waste disposal program has been launched in partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and related agencies. So far, the program has proved successful as it had significantly reduced plastic and Styrofoam wastes. The amount of garbage at Sanam Luang has been cut to 54 tonnes per day from about 110 tonnes a day, recorded in October.This helps reduce the cost of waste disposal by as much as 120,000 baht. Mr Prinya added that all food distribution tents replaced Styrofoam food containers with biodegradable food bowls and boxes. In addition, more water purifiers will be installed at Sanam Luang, he said urging people to bring their own bottles to receive drinking water there in a bid to further cut plastic bottle waste. (TNA)