The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a major waste reduction, recycling and clean-up project designed to accelerate the conversion of prime tourist areas into Zero Waste Cities.
Launched in cooperation with the consumer products multinational corporation Unilever, the TRASH (Tourism to Recycling Actions for the Schools and Homes) Project will start with the beach resort of Krabi before being expanded in stages nationwide.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 29 October, 2019, by the Executive Director Office of the Governor Ms. Chutathip Chareonlarp, Mr. Robert Candelino, Head of Unilever Thailand, and Mr. Channarong Leelaburanapong, Krabi City Deputy Mayor.
The Project recognises that both tourists and local residents generate millions of tonnes of discarded waste ranging from shampoo bottles and detergent packaging to containers of many consumer products; such as, toothpaste and confectionery.
Irrespective of whether it is generated by hotels, schools or homes, all this waste either lands up in landfills or the canals, rivers or the sea, impacting on the quality of destinations and affecting the local quality of life.
The Project continues a series of actions initiated by TAT to align its future development policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and upgrade the overall management of tourism destinations nationwide.
