National Geographic Logo - Home
    Partner Content for Dow
    • Science
    • Video

    How local teamwork is transforming plastic waste into value

    A village in Thailand comes together to turn waste into worth with the support of public-private partnerships.

    How local teamwork is transforming plastic waste into value
    3:59
    See how local teamwork is transforming plastic waste into value in Rayong, Thailand.
    BySusan Daugherty
    Published May 13, 2020
    • 5 min read
    This is Paid Content. The editorial staff of National Geographic was not involved in the preparation or production of this content.

    With support from Dow, a movement sparked by one man’s passion has transformed the waste-clogged village of Wangwa, Thailand into an environmental and social success story. The effort united government, industry, schools, and villagers to improve local health and livelihoods by sorting and recycling trash that overwhelmed the community.

    three volunteers at a beach clean-up in Rayong Thailand
    By engaging the community through hands-on action and education, community members begin to see the value of waste.
    Photograph courtesy Dow
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Welcome to Wangwa, Thailand in 2013: 500 families squeezed between piles of ever-growing trash. Filth and foul odors. No waste management or hygiene. Air pollution and sick children. Foraging dogs and rats. People fleeing to escape the waste crisis they had unintentionally created.

    Then one village leader said, "Enough."

    Sayan Rungreaung led community committee members to find a waste solution that would allow their village to survive and thrive. The team's first program asked each household to segregate organic waste, and soon, 18 tons were being separated monthly, fed to animals, and used as fertilizer.

    I started by knocking on every door until 50 people finally joined me. I studied how to manage and sort waste on my own and then educated the volunteers.
    BySayan RungreaungCommunity Leader

    Soon the municipal government and private sector joined the effort, helping to provide facilities, equipment, and roads necessary to launch the recycling initiative.

    An education campaign involving teachers, schools, and door-to-door instruction took awareness and action to the next level. Before long, families were also collecting their recyclable waste and bringing it to sell at a center each month.

    Educating the youth on waste management best practices through hands on action
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Community members sorting plastic waste
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Left: By integrating waste management education into the school curriculum, children garner the knowledge and lifelong skillset to properly identify and sort waste.
    Right: Community members sort plastic waste, where it is then recycled and transformed into reusable products.
    Photographs courtesy Dow

    In 2018, the Public-Private Partnership for Plastics (PPP) was launched to help the Thai government achieve their environmental goals with resources and funding from Dow and other leading companies in Thailand such as SCG and PTT Global Chemical. Through workshops on how to segregate each type of plastic and a successful network of local authorities, communities, and recycling businesses, Wangwa families developed a new mindset - plastic is too valuable to waste. By 2019, plastic waste sent to landfills was down 20% and the program aims to lower it to zero by 2022. Today, Wangwa’s plastics are sorted, recycled, and transformed into new products which in turn are used and recycled again—creating a never-ending circular economy that curbs waste entering the environment.

    The passion and teamwork of leaders has inspired participation throughout the village. Plastic segregation has become a career for some locals while others create and sell products from recycled plastic. Older residents and those without jobs, now have a purpose. Profits from the program provide free wifi for the entire community, scholarships for students, and benefits for the elderly. As a result, one intangible yet dramatic byproduct of the effort is its positive affect on the happiness and mental outlook of residents.

    We’ve achieved almost zero waste, clean air, higher incomes, and helped the world at the same time.
    BySayan RungreaungCommunity Leader

    Improvements in Wangwa's hygiene, quality of life, and landscape have made it a model for waste management; attracting visitors from across Thailand who come to learn best practices.

    From a village drowning in trash to a shining example - Wangwa is living proof that one person can inspire tremendous change.

    To learn more about these initiatives, go to dont-waste.dow.com



    Legal

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your US State Privacy Rights
    • Children's Online Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    • About Nielsen Measurement
    • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    Our Sites

    • Nat Geo Home
    • Attend a Live Event
    • Book a Trip
    • Buy Maps
    • Inspire Your Kids
    • Shop Nat Geo
    • Visit the D.C. Museum
    • Watch TV
    • Learn About Our Impact
    • Support Our Mission
    • Masthead
    • Press Room
    • Advertise With Us

    Join Us

    • Subscribe
    • Customer Service
    • Renew Subscription
    • Manage Your Subscription
    • Work at Nat Geo
    • Sign Up for Our Newsletters
    • Contribute to Protect the Planet

    Follow us


    National Geographic Logo - Home

    Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved