Picking Up Rubbish For Phuket.

[Redted]

It would be a great thing if phuketvisa.com and its "members" could organize a day out picking up plastic bags and beer bottles.It would encourage other people to take their rubbish home with them, instead of throwing it on the sides of roads.I am shocked at the amount of plastic bags scattered around Phuket.

Wear T-shirts saying in Thai, ( Falang Helping to Keep Phuket Clean) I am sure Thai visa would sponsor the T-shirts ?

I think it would draw a lot of attention to the locals that falang are Helping to keep Phuket Clean. I am sure that it would cause a positive change for Phuket.

(Come to Phuket the Cleanest island in Thailand.) More Punters more Money.... Get it?

Anyway I wish all the people that endeavour in this operation, the best of luck, because I have got a bad back.

Ted.

[MisterMan]

You could always use a stick to pick up trash?

When I am on the beach will make a small effort to pick up trash around me. Admittidly I could do more but I certainly dont have to wait for Earth day. Recently with my friends kids I did it, to at least instill in them the idea of picking up trash.

I speant a weekend on Koh Yao Yai and managed to fill a whole rice sack full of trash in about 20 min. Disgusting all the garbage that comes from the tour boats in Phang Nga.

now how to get people to love and respect the land so they dont dump trash and litter? I have seen many farangs litter too here too, whether its cigarettes butts on a grammer school lawn or just the normal fast food wrapper trash. tsk tsk..

[fiddlehead]

Hey, I'd be glad to help if you can get something organized.

I hate seeing the trash dumps around, especially the one at Nai Harn Lake. Such a shame.

Let me know. I don't need a t-shirt. Just a group perhaps and pick a spot. I live in the south.

[LivinLOS]

Imagine how little donations it would take to actually employ a full time clean up crew, to do what the government dont / wont do ??

I mean just a 2 - 4 man team and an old truck.. Given the salaries and kind of unskilled workers you would employ, its minimal. I would drop a 5k donation into that hat, I think many businesses would also.. All those 'trashing Phuket' photos into the gazette and actually do something to solve it. Surely local businesses would consider keeping this island beautiful a suitable goal.

[Redted]

So sad to see the lack of volunteers in the expat community on Phuket, that care about the place they live in.

So the message that comes across on this forum is "it’s not my problem, why should I spend my time picking up other peoples rubbish"

I employ three full time workers, they spend an hour a day picking up rubbish close to my business.

And over the years it has got worse, I am pleased to say that the main culprits are the locals.

Maybe if I was to offer free beer and tottie, there might be someone interested in helping.

Same old story ( what's in it for me)

Many thanks to Fiddelhead & livinLos for offering to help.

Ted.

[fiddlehead]

Obviously the Thais aren't as bothered by it as much as we are.

Also, it usually cost money to get rid of it and most of them don't have any extra.

But, notice there's rarely public waste cans around. Even at some of the 7/11's sometimes they don't have one and their stuff is often the culprit.

At my wife's town in Issan, most just throw it in the yard. Or burn it. I bought one of those dispensers made from tires. The first time the truck came to empty it, i gave them a litre of the cheap whiskey. They never charged my Mother in law since and are always asking about me. (gotta be one of the world's worst jobs, in this heat, aye?)

It is the westerners who mainly invented packaging. I think the people here were happy with the banana leaf covering held together with a sliver of bamboo. Or the old newspaper made into a bag with white glue.

But we came along and gave them packaging and now there's a problem. In their eyes, it's not a big deal i guess.

So, yeah, i'm all for helping to try to get these people educated into dealing with it or at least, throwing it in the proper container. Yes, it would be nice if we could help bust some of the dump trucks pulling over on the side of the road and letting it fly.

I don't know if we can get something started but, perhaps at the next get together we could talk about putting out some cans. I know we could get sponsers if we put their name on them.

Can anyone figure out what we would have to pay for pickup? And to who? I'm thinking Nai Harn Lake would be a good place to start. (do you think if we put some cans near the garbage dump there, anyone would get the point? probably not.)

[ade100]

If this gets organised and I am available at the time, I would be happy to help.

But have you thought through the consequences?

Yes we could spark a green revolution and be hailed as the saviours of the island. Perhaps we would be up there with Lady Muk and her buddy.

On the other hand we could all get put in prison for working without permits (presumably we would be putting Thai street cleaners out of a job). We could also be encouraging the literers to step up their operation as “those dumb “farang” will clear up after us”

Lastly, I am not, under any circumstances, wearing a T-Shirt with the word “Farang” on it.

But other than that, great idea!

[fiddlehead]

I don't want to be known as any kind of savior of the island or anything like that.

I simply want to clean up the environment i live in and perhaps educate some Thais by setting a good example.

I didn't think about getting thrown in jail for putting out some garbage cans. We would have to pay someone to empty them. would someone think that's bad?

[ade100]

I don't want to be known as any kind of savior of the island or anything like that.

I simply want to clean up the environment i live in and perhaps educate some Thais by setting a good example.

I didn't think about getting thrown in jail for putting out some garbage cans. We would have to pay someone to empty them. would someone think that's bad?

Officially you need a work permit do any kind of unpaid work in Thailand. However they would probably be prepared to turn a blind eye for something like this. You mght want to check with police or immigration.

[Redted]

I don't want to be known as any kind of savior of the island or anything like that.

I simply want to clean up the environment i live in and perhaps educate some Thais by setting a good example.

I didn't think about getting thrown in jail for putting out some garbage cans. We would have to pay someone to empty them. would someone think that's bad?

Officially you need a work permit do any kind of unpaid work in Thailand. However they would probably be prepared to turn a blind eye for something like this. You mght want to check with police or immigration.

I can see the headline now: Farang thrown out of Thailand for picking up rubbish in their spare time on Phuket island, without having obtained a work permit first.

I understand the Rotory club have such advents for picking up rubbish on Phuket?

Ted.

[barky]

Dear redted, I think you may dislike my comment, but its what I believe. Firstly, as you are a business owner there you have a vested interest, others don't. Some may take the view that they don't want to be seen as cleaners for the Thai. Others my take the view it's mostly Thais that create the mess, it's their country let them clean it up. Some Thais generally just wouldn't understand you, think you're strange and would'nt bother. After all if they're happy living in it who are we to disagree. I do understand your motivation. Ideally great idea. Whenever I go to a park or beach I leave it the way I found it. That's all I'm prepared to do.

[ade100]

I don't want to be known as any kind of savior of the island or anything like that.

I simply want to clean up the environment i live in and perhaps educate some Thais by setting a good example.

I didn't think about getting thrown in jail for putting out some garbage cans. We would have to pay someone to empty them. would someone think that's bad?

Officially you need a work permit do any kind of unpaid work in Thailand. However they would probably be prepared to turn a blind eye for something like this. You mght want to check with police or immigration.

I can see the headline now: Farang thrown out of Thailand for picking up rubbish in their spare time on Phuket island, without having obtained a work permit first.

I understand the Rotory club have such advents for picking up rubbish on Phuket?

Ted.

In reality, I doubt we would be deported or put in jail. However we could realistically be fined or "asked" to make a "donation" to the Royal Thai Police to gain their cooperation. Now I try to be a good citizen but clearing up after the Thais and paying them for the privilage of doing it? There are limits.

One avenue you could explore is something similar to what happens in my GF's hotel. One day per month all staff do some community duties which involve things like cleaning the beach. As they are either Thai or have Work Permits, there are no problems.

[donna]

another hotel i know of in patong also does this on occasion.

you COULD try the rotary clubs. they would give you some info, for sure. i think the head of the phuket (or maybe the patong) rotary hangs out at BYD Lofts on a daily basis. worth having a word to him i think.

one way you could tackle it is just to name a day, time and place, and just meet there. i would suggest a small beach to start with (if it is a beach you want to do) and take it from there. if any of you are already working, why not get your staff involved? shout them a lunch at the end of it and make it a fun day and everyone will be happy.

you could have a competition for the most, say, plastic bags collected and award a small prize to the winner. it keeps it fun and that means motivation.

just my two bobs worth.