Why Are Thais Such Litterbugs?

[huggybear]

I do sales in Phuket and am on the roads here a lot.

It just amazes me how often I see garbage just being thrown out of vehicles. I've even seen the schoolkids in the back of a school carrier just launch trash out. On the back of a motorbike, I see people just throw plastic bottles. Nobody says a word, it's like nothing........

Is it because labor is cheap and they know at some point somebody will come pick it up? Do they just not care? Is it just a cultural thing where once that garbage has left their immediate presence it doesn't matter anymore, not their concern?

[Carmine6]

I think 2 big contributing factors that lead to the general behavior:

1) Hard to find trash cans or some place to throw it away if you wanted to

2) They do street cleaning fairly often

Even in a mall, finding a trash can is just about impossible. Usually only in bathrooms and near entrances. In the US, they're all over the place in a mall. In heavy pedestrian areas, they're on the street. On the streets in Thailand, you have to get lucky and find last night's trash bag out at the curb or a 7-11. I just carry my trash until I can find a place, but if I had to worry about my clothes, I'd be inclined to get rid of the stuff quickly.

[IanForbes]

They just took naturally to all the fast food outlets with all the plastic packaging. The plastic packaging is a product of the oil industry's waste. But, it is endemic of all low class citizens. Walking along an Australian road near a beach area I couldn't make three paces without stepping on broken beer bottles. All our camping areas close to cities in Canada are covered in trash. Look what happens in any major city if there is a public workers strike. However, I don't see much trash in most northern European countries like Denmark.

[Soutpeel]

Do they just not care?

That IMHO is the correct answer...if you hadnt noticed by now, on the whole Thai's are very selfish and dont care about anything except themselves...

[njpski]

Was just in a carpark at the supermarket.

An extremely neat pile of cigarette butts occupied the parking space next to me.

Was I in Thailand, was in the UK, was in the USA, no, I was in Australia.

Unfortunately, litterbugs are all around.

I agree it is terrible when people litter, I ride a push bike for exercise and am always on the look out for broken glass - again not country-specific.

Good luck with denigration of Thai people if that is your aim but recognise that it is not an exclusively Thai problem

[Thaddeus]

When everything came supplied in coconut shells or banana leaves, it didn't matter ...... and now they can't break the habit.

[robblok]

Was just in a carpark at the supermarket.

An extremely neat pile of cigarette butts occupied the parking space next to me.

Was I in Thailand, was in the UK, was in the USA, no, I was in Australia.

Unfortunately, litterbugs are all around.

I agree it is terrible when people litter, I ride a push bike for exercise and am always on the look out for broken glass - again not country-specific.

Good luck with denigration of Thai people if that is your aim but recognise that it is not an exclusively Thai problem

It is not i used to see litter in Holland too...... but .. much less here its absolutely horrible.

[Soutpeel]

When everything came supplied in coconut shells or banana leaves, it didn't matter ...... and now they can't break the habit.

...Good Point

[TheLaughingMan]

Was just in a carpark at the supermarket.

An extremely neat pile of cigarette butts occupied the parking space next to me.

Was I in Thailand, was in the UK, was in the USA, no, I was in Australia.

Unfortunately, litterbugs are all around.

I agree it is terrible when people litter, I ride a push bike for exercise and am always on the look out for broken glass - again not country-specific.

Good luck with denigration of Thai people if that is your aim but recognise that it is not an exclusively Thai problem

You are being extremely foolish here, the small problems you will find in the west do not even come close to being in the same vein as the insanely huge problem in Thailand. Just because it happens on a tiny scale back home doesnt make what Thai people are doing as right.

[jumnien]

Thais like to eat and they aren't ashamed of crapping. They use the words all the time very casually, "i've got to shit, did you shit?" Whereas in the west, we are ashamed of it, we can't even use the words on internet forums.

Thais consume and the waste products of their consumption are tossed about rather habitually, they see no great sin. Whereas, in the west, we consume voraciously, creating mounds of waste, but we think it's ok because we hide it. Our pollution footprint is far greater than Thais, and yet we hide behind our pride that in Aspen or Lyon you won't see the waste on the streets that you do in Thailand. We think of ourselves as more environmentally conscious at the same time as we consciously destroy the environment at a much faster pace.

[Chaimai]

Do they just not care?

That IMHO is the correct answer...if you hadnt noticed by now, on the whole Thai's are very selfish and dont care about anything except themselves...

This is perfectly true, but is it not also a case of lack of education ?

Some people say "Thais are stupid" - in my experience this is rarely the case. Whilst many are inherently lazy, most are capable of learning and if you can generate a desire to improve/learn the Thais can respond and learn quickly.

[Soutpeel]

Was just in a carpark at the supermarket.

An extremely neat pile of cigarette butts occupied the parking space next to me.

Was I in Thailand, was in the UK, was in the USA, no, I was in Australia.

Unfortunately, litterbugs are all around.

I agree it is terrible when people litter, I ride a push bike for exercise and am always on the look out for broken glass - again not country-specific.

Good luck with denigration of Thai people if that is your aim but recognise that it is not an exclusively Thai problem

You are being extremely foolish here, the small problems you will find in the west do not even come close to being in the same vein as the insanely huge problem in Thailand. Just because it happens on a tiny scale back home doesnt make what Thai people are doing as right.

You bare in mind the poster of these comments has the rosey coloured spectacles on..

I have worked in some of the ar*e-holes of South East Asia and in comparison IMHO Thailand comes out near the bottom of the list of cleaning up after themselves as regards litter, I have seen some shanty towns in Indonesia which have less sh*t and rubbish than the average city or town in Thailand

[Soutpeel]

Thais like to eat and they aren't ashamed of crapping. They use the words all the time very casually, "i've got to shit, did you shit?" Whereas in the west, we are ashamed of it, we can't even use the words on internet forums.

Thais consume and the waste products of their consumption are tossed about rather habitually, they see no great sin. Whereas, in the west, we consume voraciously, creating mounds of waste, but we think it's ok because we hide it. Our pollution footprint is far greater than Thais, and yet we hide behind our pride that in Aspen or Lyon you won't see the waste on the streets that you do in Thailand. We think of ourselves as more environmentally conscious at the same time as we consciously destroy the environment at a much faster pace.

<deleted>

[eek]

Yes, its a problem, but to say all Thai people dont care or all Thai people use coarse language, is far too extreme..and not true.

Was on a long bus journey recently, and it broke down on the mountain side. Some of the passengers went out for a while, my partner included. When he came back he said he was sad to see some of his own countrymen throw the face wipes and plastic wrappers that were handed out on the ground. He said he doesnt know why they dont care about keeping their environment beautiful. So, of course not all Thai do not care.

[deprogrammed]

backward

[njpski]

Was just in a carpark at the supermarket.

An extremely neat pile of cigarette butts occupied the parking space next to me.

Was I in Thailand, was in the UK, was in the USA, no, I was in Australia.

Unfortunately, litterbugs are all around.

I agree it is terrible when people litter, I ride a push bike for exercise and am always on the look out for broken glass - again not country-specific.

Good luck with denigration of Thai people if that is your aim but recognise that it is not an exclusively Thai problem

You are being extremely foolish here, the small problems you will find in the west do not even come close to being in the same vein as the insanely huge problem in Thailand. Just because it happens on a tiny scale back home doesnt make what Thai people are doing as right.

The thrust of my post was that the OP was taking a swipe at Thais, yes, they are not perfect but "enlightened" westerners who pontificate on how "terrible" Thais are a fascinating set of contributors to this forum.

The "tiny scale" is relative - I can show you public places in Oz frequented by caucasians only that are total embarassments - outside pubs and nightclubs - vomit, broken glass, cigarette butts.

The west is far from perfect which is surprising given how well resourced it is compared to our Asian cousins.

Totalitarian states have very little in the way of litter problems - try chewing gum in Singapore, throw some litter in Tiannamen Square.

Have just watched a television shock-jock style show - a couple of Aussie guys claim they did not attempt an insurance scam when they were arrested in Chiang Mai - we all need to stop saying one country is better or worse than another but instead rejoice in the differences - life is too short to continue to find fault every where you look.

[kudroz]

Is it because labor is cheap and they know at some point somebody will come pick it up? Do they just not care? Is it just a cultural thing where once that garbage has left their immediate presence it doesn't matter anymore, not their concern?

Yeah, they could care less. They have no sense of cleanliness. When you are trying logic and common sense with them to try and explain why it's wrong - it won't work. Their minds are too simple and immune to logic.

[loong]

Thais like to eat and they aren't ashamed of crapping. They use the words all the time very casually, "i've got to shit, did you shit?" Whereas in the west, we are ashamed of it, we can't even use the words on internet forums.

Thais consume and the waste products of their consumption are tossed about rather habitually, they see no great sin. Whereas, in the west, we consume voraciously, creating mounds of waste, but we think it's ok because we hide it. Our pollution footprint is far greater than Thais, and yet we hide behind our pride that in Aspen or Lyon you won't see the waste on the streets that you do in Thailand. We think of ourselves as more environmentally conscious at the same time as we consciously destroy the environment at a much faster pace.

<deleted>

Funny, that was the exact first word that entered my mind when I read that post as well

Air pollution in Thailand must be one of the highest in the world.

[noahvail]

Yeah, they could care less. They have no sense of cleanliness. When you are trying logic and common sense with them to try and explain why it's wrong - it won't work. Their minds are too simple and immune to logic.

Oh, for the love of....

Please, go back and read US history, especially of the groups of immigrants: the existing immigrants said the same thing that you just did about each new group of immigrants they encountered.

Apologies for the run-on sentence. No apologies for the thought.

[oldsparrow]

When everything came supplied in coconut shells or banana leaves, it didn't matter ...... and now they can't break the habit.

Good reason. In Japan the smokers have their own small pill box to collect cigarette ash, it's great.

In TL sometime you can guess the car size in the prking lot after it left by observing trashes on the scene.

[Lancelot]

If we get to vote, put me in the "They don't care" camp. I agree that contributing factors are no trash cans and the idea of "No big deal, the street sweeper will clean it up." Hey, it makes for more employment.

But its a relative thing. Ever been to Bangladesh? Talk about litter...

[Soutpeel]

Thais like to eat and they aren't ashamed of crapping. They use the words all the time very casually, "i've got to shit, did you shit?" Whereas in the west, we are ashamed of it, we can't even use the words on internet forums.

Thais consume and the waste products of their consumption are tossed about rather habitually, they see no great sin. Whereas, in the west, we consume voraciously, creating mounds of waste, but we think it's ok because we hide it. Our pollution footprint is far greater than Thais, and yet we hide behind our pride that in Aspen or Lyon you won't see the waste on the streets that you do in Thailand. We think of ourselves as more environmentally conscious at the same time as we consciously destroy the environment at a much faster pace.

<deleted>

Funny, that was the exact first word that entered my mind when I read that post as well

Air pollution in Thailand must be one of the highest in the world.

My guess China comes out on top, but would expect Thailand could come in the top 10-15

[churchill]

Lack of trash cans - Where ever I am it is difficult to find one

Parents do it so children copy - The education has to come from Parents and schools to change the habit .

Fines for throwing litter would be a good idea .

[jumnien]

The carbon footprint is far greater in the West than in Thailand. Waste creation is far higher in the west than in Thailand. The Western lifestyle consumes far more non-renewable resources than Thailand. Western streets are less littered. Big <deleted>' deal. The planets dying fellas and all you can do is complain that poor people are littering....

[Soutpeel]

The planets dying fellas ......

Says who...Al Gore..

[jumnien]

The planets dying fellas ......

Says who...Al Gore..

He's the epitome of Western waste creation - an overeating moron jetsetting around the world pointing the finger at everyone but himself.

[bonobo]

I think it is part cultural, part practical.

The cultural part is that there does not seem to be any cultural imperative to keeping the place clean. When one poster posted that there was less litter in Indonesia, that made sense to me as Muslims do have a cultural/religious imperative for cleanliness. But then Lancelot blew that theory out of the water when he mentioned Bangladesh. But still, I don't think there is a cultural imperative towards cleanliness as there is in the West. However, that imperative in the West is fairly new. It wasn't that long ago that westerneres threw their body wastes out the window and into the city streets.

The practical is an issue, too. There simply are not many trash receptacles around. Near my condo, cars would slow down, then toss bags of garbage out the window onto the side of the road. It got so bad that they had to erect a fence to stop it. In the US, every parking lot has dumpsters. It may be illegal to use them as they are private property, but people do it all the time. They would rather break that law than litter.

[Ta22]

This got to be done by School . Education is the key ..

and also the lack of rubbish bin is a major problem ..

this a social problem and only from good and long education system this will change ..

and maybe a mild fine system or .. if someone get arrested for littling . he or she need to serve as a street cleaner for 1 days for every trash he throw ..

then it may improve ,.,

another way is if you see someone throw a trash and if it not too messy or too ditry .. you should pick it up and throw it in the right place to set good example .. that what i do .. sometime if i find the right chances .

[njpski]

The carbon footprint is far greater in the West than in Thailand. Waste creation is far higher in the west than in Thailand. The Western lifestyle consumes far more non-renewable resources than Thailand. Western streets are less littered. Big <deleted>' deal. The planets dying fellas and all you can do is complain that poor people are littering....

I agree the west's carbon footprint is obscene - and the west spins their credentials all the time - the excessive use of electricity in melbourne, New York etc is scandalous - the city slickers say their electric trains are non-polluting - but go check out a coal-fired power station where the electricity actually comes from!!

[Soutpeel]

The carbon footprint is far greater in the West than in Thailand. Waste creation is far higher in the west than in Thailand. The Western lifestyle consumes far more non-renewable resources than Thailand. Western streets are less littered. Big <deleted>' deal. The planets dying fellas and all you can do is complain that poor people are littering....

I agree the west's carbon footprint is obscene - and the west spins their credentials all the time - the excessive use of electricity in melbourne, New York etc is scandalous - the city slickers say their electric trains are non-polluting - but go check out a coal-fired power station where the electricity actually comes from!!

Everybody here is targetting the West...What about China ??