Flooded Bangkok hires more binmen as trash mounts

BANGKOK, November 8, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand plans to hire at least 2,000 extra rubbish collectors in the capital Bangkok to tackle a mountain of trash that has piled up in inundated areas, officials said on Tuesday.

About one-fifth of the Thai capital is submerged in floodwater contaminated by rubbish, dead animals and industrial waste, raising fears about outbreaks of disease in the densely populated city of 12 million people.

Rubbish collectors, some of whom have resorted to using boats instead of trucks, have struggled to reach badly-hit districts in the past two weeks, leaving hundreds of tonnes of uncollected rubbish to clog up Bangkok's streets.

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra told reporters the city would hire 150 additional collectors in each affected district for the rest of 2011 and give them the necessary equipment to reach swamped neighbourhoods.

The capital already employs about 17,000 refuse collectors and road sweepers.

More than 1.7 million people have been told to evacuate 12 out of Bangkok's 50 districts, while partial evacuations have been ordered in five others.

But many residents have chosen to stay in their homes despite risks including electrocution, disease and lack of food and drinking water.

The floods are the worst to hit Thailand in decades. Triggered by heavy monsoon rains that began three months ago, they have killed 527 people nationwide and are expected to plague Bangkok for several more weeks at least.

On average, the city collects some 8,500 tonnes of rubbish each day and an official at the BMA's environment department said that less than half of the waste in flood-affected districts was being cleared.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-11-08

wondt it be nice for one time this government act proactively rather than reactively.

if they only clean the city not just the places visible by the tourist, before theflood I was amazed how much garbage was being cumulated in the cannels. I guessis payback time

When they have collected it where will they put it, in the river?

Garbage force gets a boost

The Nation

Another 150 workers will be hired to collect the mounting garbage in Bangkok's flooded areas from November 10 to December 31, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

The Corrections Department would enlist some inmates to help with this work.

Rangsan Pinthong, director of the Pollution Control Department's Waste and Hazardous Substance Management Bureau, said the city had asked his office for cooperation in managing garbage disposal during the floods, so both would set up a joint committee with other agencies to take on this task.

The department will test the quality of water quality in flooded areas that have the most garbage, and come up with information about trash management. TPI Polene had offered to burn the waste at its incinerators in Saraburi.

People should be urged to separate hazardous content such as batteries, electronic devices and chemicals, which make up 3 per cent of the city's refuse, he added.

-- The Nation 2011-11-09

When they have collected it where will they put it, in the river?

They'll probably burn it!

That's exactly what TPI Polene said they would do in the post above yours.Post #5

Edited November 9, 201114 yr by ratcatcher

They will have to burn it everywhere else is underwater is it not?

The whole of Thailand is a rubbish tip. Just like the UK was 50yrs ago. We learned, I wonder when they will?

jb1

The whole of Thailand is a rubbish tip. Just like the UK was 50yrs ago. We learned, I wonder when they will?

jb1

Here is a little hint: pigs that fly!