Ocean-Bound Collection of Mixed Plastics in Bangkok, Thailand (PWRS)

Plastic is a major challenge in Bangkok's vast canal and waterway network, which flows directly into the Chao Phraya River and the Gulf of Thailand. Since an estimated 80% of ocean waste comes from rivers, stopping pollution upstream is vital for marine ecosystems.

Since July 2020, this project partner—whose mission is to stop the flow of waste before it reaches the ocean—has been tackling the heavily polluted Lat Phrao Canal using strategically placed river traps. They divert approximately 11,000 pounds of waste every week, preventing it from degrading into microplastics and making it more suitable for recycling.

Collection crews empty the river traps nearly every day and transport the collected waste by boat to their centralized sorting center, where the wide range of materials—including metal, glass, plastic, and other debris—is unloaded, dried, weighed, and manually sorted for processing. 

This project deals with a broad range of plastics, including types #1 through #7, as well as composite plastics. These materials aren’t widely recycled by other waste management companies because recycling them is unprofitable. The project partner can recycle these plastics and non-plastic materials because of funding from stakeholders and donors. Recyclable plastics become new products—including bracelets and flying discs—while lower-grade materials are made into construction materials or converted into energy through local partners. 

Due in part to their community outreach and school education efforts, they have seen a positive change: community members began placing their trash along the canalside for pickup, as opposed to dumping it in the canal, further contributing to a more sustainable mindset in this region. 

Your plastic credit purchase directly funds this impact. It supports expanding collection capacity, hiring additional full-time employees, and paying fair wages. It also sustains their waste prevention educational programming for local students and community members, contributing to both a cleaner ocean and sustainable livelihoods in Thailand.