Filthy beaches: Discarded syringes, masks everywhere threaten tourists

 

Picture: Sanook

 

The office of the Marine and Coastal Resources 1 went to a Rayong beach to investigate after a tourist reported seeing syringes.

 

It happened at PMY beach also known as "Moonlight Beach". The tourist feared stepping on one and possible getting infected with some disease.

 

Pongsiri Saenprasert responded and reported finding a huge amount of ghastly garbage on the beach.

 

There were at least ten syringes, masks and other debris all washed up, presumably from offshore discarded in the sea.

 

There were probably others floating in the sea itself, he noted.

 

Vaccine bottles were also found.

 

He was investigating their possible source.

 

Busara, 56, a trader who collects trash at the beach in an agreement with the local authority, told Sanook she found one or two syringes every day. 

 

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Picture: Sanook

Picture: Sanook

Picture: Sanook

Picture: Sanook

medical waste dumped in the sea - what next

You so see this in them glossy tourists magazines do you?... while they keep their road clean with many human road sweepers surly they can spare few to keep the beaches clean can't they now?...

It's the same every year this time, same. I can't or won't even take my dog for a walk on the beach it's so nasty now.

 

It's the Thai mentality not to care about the trash, you'll have food carts with tables along the beach and they won't so much as ever clean up the beach to make it more enjoyable for customers. As long as a selfie can be taken showing the water and not the trash.

 

How about some clean up before the islands of trash hit the shores as it does every year this time.

Thailand has a water-based waste disposal system.  Throw everything down the storm drains, let it be washed into the rivers, then it ends up on the beaches.

 

Not the optimum solution for an economy reliant on tourism.

Why I burn, if possible, most of my trash at home.  Why give to the gov't to dump in the sea. Shameful.

 

Vaccine vials ... nuff said.

If I end up leaving Thailand for good, it will not be because of the overvalued Baht or anything of the kind. It will be because of this.

Dump it in the sea or on a lot down a Soi.

Hey, at least they have choices.

Not the 'Top 10' list you want to be in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_debris#Sources

 

https://tdri.or.th/en/2021/06/disparity-worsens-ocean-pollution/

When I first came here and was looking round for a place to settle down, I like the Rayong area, Mae Pim specifically. For various reasons I elected not to buy land there....bloody glad I didn't. The number of times it turns up as a winner in the filthy beach contest is amazing. 

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

You so see this in them glossy tourists magazines do you?... while they keep their road clean with many human road sweepers surly they can spare few to keep the beaches clean can't they now?...

In the USA I always wear shoes at the beach, I found Hawaii had the most needles sticking up in the sand. This is everywhere and the smart tourist know this.

6 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

When I first came here and was looking round for a place to settle down, I like the Rayong area, Mae Pim specifically. For various reasons I elected not to buy land there....bloody glad I didn't. The number of times it turns up as a winner in the filthy beach contest is amazing. 

Yeah I used to go there a lot for weekend trips from BKK.

 

Now you've got the oil slicks, trash filled beaches and possibly mandatory Covid tests (not sure if that's a thing this week but why take the chance?). Slurping down oily fish (crude oil not cooking oil!!) as syringes blow past me is not my idea of a pleasant weekend.

 

It's a shame. A beautiful area ruined by stupidity.

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Dump it in the sea or on a lot down a Soi.

Hey, at least they have choices.

The Klongs are no exception.

This type of issue not only in Thailand.  But in some western countries it’s a fairly common problem also. . Some of it is dropped on site by visitors.  But most of it probably washed up from the sea.  

I would imagine that if the label with the batch code is still on a vile it could easily be traced back to the hospital or clinic. But I'm doubtful that will happen. 

8 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I would imagine that if the label with the batch code is still on a vile it could easily be traced back to the hospital or clinic. But I'm doubtful that will happen. 

What we as consumers do with the trash, isn't as much the problem, as most trust giving it to the gov't to handle, who apparently dumps it in the seas.

 

Why I burn as much as possible myself at home, and don't give them the opportunity.  I'm pretty sure they are simply going to burn it or dump in the sea anyway.

 

What they need is trash to energy plants, and to actually recycle what recyclables the do collect.  Makes no sense to seperate, and drop off at recycling places, if all they do is place in landfill, burn it or dump in the seas.  If not recycling, burn for energy, as the plastics, since an oil byproduct, burn excellently for energy.  

Admittedly, plastic waste is the most visible and unhealthy and unsightly blight in Thai rivers and beaches.  When I walk beaches, especially those with small rocks, I recover broken glass and rusty metal objects.  Step on these while barefoot, it will ruin your whole day.

The only thing that _REALLY_ threatens tourists - what my friends tell me and other ppl write on the internets - is the possibility to get into a self-paid quarantine (as insurance companies do not cover asymptomatic COVID), and to lose 1-2 weeks of a vacation.

 

And that's why people choose other countries for a vacation instead of Thailand.

 

3 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

When I first came here and was looking round for a place to settle down, I like the Rayong area, Mae Pim specifically. For various reasons I elected not to buy land there....bloody glad I didn't. The number of times it turns up as a winner in the filthy beach contest is amazing. 

I too considered the Mae Pim area, and will probably return someday.  To me, clean waters, small waves and steady winds matter most.

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Why I burn, if possible, most of my trash at home

Ah, so it's you!

46 minutes ago, bigupandchill said:

Ah, so it's you!

Yep ... does it matter, me or the gov't ?  As long as it doesn't end up in the seas, I'm happy.

 

Not a big fan of landfills, as it eventually makes it down to the water table.  Unfortunately, me burning, is simply the lesser of the 3 evils.  Anyone got a better solution, I'm all ears/eyes.

Posts with content that was copy and pasted from some sites without links to the sources of information have been removed. 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

He was investigating their possible source.

Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Bolivia?

6 hours ago, vandeventer said:

In the USA I always wear shoes at the beach, I found Hawaii had the most needles sticking up in the sand. This is everywhere and the smart tourist know this.

Never seen this on the Costa del sol. Beaches are pristine. Think I will return there.

Don't worry some one will clean it up Thai style:

 

 

 

Just a terrible look.  That's not how to attract tourists.  Of course, with the current Thailand Pass system that is killing tourism anyway.  

Looks more like PEDs vial rather than a vaccine vial 

7 hours ago, dj230 said:

Looks more like PEDs vial rather than a vaccine vial 

From the OP:  "Vaccine bottles were also found"

21 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Why I burn, if possible, most of my trash at home.  Why give to the gov't to dump in the sea. Shameful.

 

Vaccine vials ... nuff said.

Burning trash? If you're burning anything but plain untreated paper then you're part of the problem mate. Burning plastics and wrapping releases highly toxic chemicals Cyanide being one! Don't burn your trash plz! 

16 hours ago, DFPhuket said:

I would imagine that if the label with the batch code is still on a vile it could easily be traced back to the hospital or clinic. But I'm doubtful that will happen. 

The hospital probably outsources disposal of medical waste: to the lowest bidder..