Bottles for blessings: Thai Buddhist temple recycles plastics into robes

[snoop1130]

Bottles for blessings: Thai Buddhist temple recycles plastics into robes

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

A worker cleans plastic bottles meant to be used to make robes at a monastery in Bangkok, Thailand February 6, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - At a Buddhist temple south of Bangkok, a monk watches as a machine presses down on thousands of water bottles, before a giant bale of crushed plastic rolls out with a thud.

 

The plastic is destined to be recycled into polyester fibres, which will be made into fabric for saffron-coloured robes for monks.

 

The recycling temple of Wat Chak Daeng is one bright example of recycling for Thailand, one of five countries that account for more than half of plastic in the world's oceans.

 

The monks have crushed 40 tonnes (88,185 lb) of plastic over two years since starting the programme, aiming to curb plastic waste entering the Chao Phraya River, which flows south to the Gulf of Thailand in the western Pacific Ocean.

 

"I'm practicing the Buddha's teachings, which also align with solving the global environmental crisis," says Phra Maha Pranom Dhammalangkaro, 54, abbot of the temple in Samut Prakan province, just south of Bangkok.

 

Unlike most temples where people give monks alms like food and clothes, devotees ride bicycles here to offer plastic bags and bottles in exchange for Phra Maha Pranom's blessings.

 

"Donating one kilogram (2.2 lb) of plastic bottles can help make a full set of monk robes, which has a high return value, both in terms of money and merits," the monk says.

 

The temple has produced at least 800 sets of robes, with more in production stages.

 

Each set sells for between 2,000 baht ($65.79) and 5,000 baht ($164.47), to keep funding the project and pay waste-sorting volunteers, many of whom are local housewives, retirees and disabled persons.

 

Thailand is the fifth highest contributor of plastic to the world's oceans, according to a report by the U.S.-based group Ocean Conservancy. The list includes three other Southeast Asian countries and China, the top plastics polluter.

 

"Not only are the monks making a concrete contribution to recycling, but they are raising awareness in their communities," said Chever Voltmer, Director for Plastics Initiatives at Ocean Conservancy.

 

When Phra Maha Pranom ventures into the community, villagers, both young and old, come out to contribute plastics.

 

"If you don't collect these plastics, where do they end up? In the stomachs of dugongs, dolphins, whales, and many other sea animals. Then they die," he tells them.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-06

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[VincentRJ]

The monks have crushed 40 tonnes (88,185 lb) of plastic over two years since starting the programme, aiming to curb plastic waste entering the Chao Phraya River, which flows south to the Gulf of Thailand in the western Pacific Ocean.

 

This is a very admirable project, but the article gives the impression that the monks are doing some work, perhaps operating the machinery that crushes the plastic. I thought it was only Santi Asoke monks who were allowed to work. ????

[ChrisY1]

Who cares if monks aren"t supposed to work.....make them useful at something...even crushing plastics!

[30la]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

At a Buddhist temple south of Bangkok, a monk watches as a machine presses down on thousands of water bottles, before a giant bale of crushed plastic rolls out with a thud.

I don't believe it....

[Tongjaw]

12 hours ago, VincentRJ said:

 

 

 

This is a very admirable project, but the article gives the impression that the monks are doing some work, perhaps operating the machinery that crushes the plastic. I thought it was only Santi Asoke monks who were allowed to work. ????

I don’t read anything in the article that suggests the monks are working. It’s says a monk watches as a machine presses down. Then further down it says that volunteers do the work.
This is a wonderful project the monks and locals are doing so let’s try not to take the OP down another avenue. 

[VincentRJ]

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Who cares if monks aren"t supposed to work.....make them useful at something...even crushing plastics!

Who cares? Well, presumably all devout Buddhists care, and especially the Sangha Supreme Council which maintains the traditional rules. If the rules have changed and monks in temples are now allowed to effectively operate a 'business' which makes money, then that is a major news item in itself.

 

The Santi Asoke movement is, or was, considered to be a rebel group because the members of the community supported themselves by selling organic food to the local markets instead of receiving donations of money from the public, which is good news of course, and a welcome change.

 

The temple has produced at least 800 sets of robes, with more in production stages.

Each set sells for between 2,000 baht ($65.79) and 5,000 baht ($164.47), to keep funding the project and pay waste-sorting volunteers, many of whom are local housewives, retirees and disabled persons.

 

[30la]

Strange, what I've seen to date is, that temples and government schools are the biggest destroyers of the environment!

[30la]

The title of the article must be "Bottle for money"!

[Damrongsak]

Go with the flow ...

 

[digger70]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bottles for blessings: Thai Buddhist temple recycles plastics into robes

So the Monks are doing the work? Sorry, Monks Don't work. There are a different lot of Monks and Nuns in Europe. they  have farms raising cattle growing crops and making Beer  Trappist beer is brewed by Trappist monks. Fourteen monasteries—six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, and one each in Austria, Italy, England, France, Spain ... so there you go sort of self sufficient Real Monks . No Begging for food and money for them , they ain't bludgers.   ????   

[khaowong1]

This article doesn't say anything about the Monks doing the work.  Only overseeing the collection of plastic.  And selling approx. 800 sets of robes equals about 1700 lbs of plastic.  And getting approx 2.5 million baht in exchange.  Minus the cost of labor and machinery.  Nice business venture I would say.  I would like to hear more of this story, like what they are doing with the revenue.