Ban Krut Launches Bottles

by Amelia Meier on 03/01/2017 1 comment

03 January 2017 – Trash Hero Ban Krut 

Trash Hero Ban Krut has just launched the Trash Hero bottle. One more location in Thailand that has now joined! Bottles can now be purchased for 200 Baht, and those with a bottle in hand can then get free refills at the water stations at the Siriphong Guesthouse  and the Gecko Bar Ban Krut (Gecko Bar Bankrut). OR, at any other one of the refill stations across Thailand.

The Trash Hero Bottle program aims to substantially reduce the amount of plastic bottles that end up on the beaches, in the sea, and in our communities by providing reusable replacements which not only benefit the environment, but also save those who own one money. Since March 2016, around 4000 litres of water have been bottled at the water station at Siriphong Guesthouse and the Gecko Bar. This means that more than 2600 plastic bottles (1.5l) have been saved… or 8000 bottles if we are counting in 0.5l bottles.

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Amelia MeierBan Krut Launches Bottles

From a New Volunteer in Chiang Mai

by Amelia Meier on 02/01/2017 No comments

02 January 2017 – Trash Hero Chiang Mai

Trash Hero Chiang Mai has been going strong since August 2015, and we just read this fantastic report Shayne Rochfort, one of the Trash Heroes from Chiang Mai:

Have you had a great Trash Hero experience? I have. I have only done two of our Chiang Mai cleanups, and they have been fun. Who would have thought? The November cleanup was my first ever, and picking up trash with a group of people was very rewarding, and a great chance to get to know more about other Trash Heroes in Chiang Mai. Altogether, we picked up 1000 kgs of top quality trash.
My second cleanup was our last one on Christmas Eve. Again, we removed heaps of trash from our wonderful city, and had plenty of fun along the way.

Now I would like you to do something that is even easier… Ask you to help us grow the Trash Hero Chiang Mai? Here are my suggestions:

1. Tell everyone about your Trash Hero experience, here and in person.
2. Invite your friends to join you for the next cleanup and invite them to like the Trash Hero Chiang Mai Facebook page (and the Trash Hero World Facebook page while they’re at it).
3. Join the Trash Hero committee. A non-compulsory commitment of about 2 hours per month plus cleanups and putting your thoughts out in our group chats is what is required. We all lead busy lives, so we do what we can and keep the commitment low.

Our group consists neither of Thai people nor of foreign people. We are all just Trash Heros. Other chapters in Thailand have a lot more going on, and we would like to do more here in Chiang Mai as well. Trash Hero Chiang Mai can work towards an even brighter future for our beautiful city!

At the moment Trash Hero Chiang Mai already has:

All we need now to make Trash Hero Chiang Mai great is … YOU!

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Amelia MeierFrom a New Volunteer in Chiang Mai

Special Hero from Pattani

by Amelia Meier on 06/12/2016 No comments

6 December 2016 – Trash Hero Thailand

We are humbled by the thousands of Trash Heroes who have joined us over the years to clean during the past years. Every now and again however a hero (or heroine) stands out due to their commitment to the cause. Nattapong Nithi-Uthai from Trash Hero Pattani is one such hero. Read about him in this inspiring interview.

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Amelia MeierSpecial Hero from Pattani

Trash Hero Thailand Wins

by Amelia Meier on 08/11/2016 No comments

8 November 2016 – Trash Hero Thailand Wins Thailand Green Excellence Award

We are delighted to announce that  Trash Hero Thailand has won the Thailand Green Excellence Award in the category “Outstanding Contribution to Green Tourism in Thailand”. Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand Ubol Ratanarachakanya Siriwatanaphanwadi presented the prestigious awards during a memorable ceremony hosted at the World Travel Market London on 7 November 2016 in the British capital. World Travel Market London is a leading global event for the travel industry, bringing together 51’500 participants and representatives from nearly every country in the world. The perfect occasion to spread the Trash Hero word, and we enjoyed making new friends from Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

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Amelia MeierTrash Hero Thailand Wins

A 9-year old Trash Hero from China

by Amelia Meier on 29/09/2016 No comments
September 26, 2016 – Trash Hero China in the making?
Constance is 9 years old and lives in China. Together with her mother, she recently cleaned up on the Great Wall of China. Her inspiration had been the pictures of weekly cleanups coming from Trash Hero Hua Hin (Thailand), and she therefore decided to do the same in China for a day.
If everyone did their little part like Constance we would be facing a far less littered world than we are now. Thank you Constance & mother for the inspiration!
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Amelia MeierA 9-year old Trash Hero from China

Sponsor Update 2016 (Part I): Trash Hero Bottles

by Amelia Meier on 26/09/2016 2 comments

September 26, 2016 – Trash Hero World

As we wrap up 2016, we wanted to reflect on the considerable progress made this year. This success was made possible by the many volunteers who help every week and by the generosity of donors.

The world’s mounting waste problem threatens public health, pollutes the environment and impairs development in poorer countries, and yet awareness of the scope of the problem is alarmingly low. Donations received this year have enabled Trash Hero World to launch sustainable, actionable programs to tackle those issues and ultimately change the behaviour toward waste management through awareness and education, notably in both Indonesia and Thailand.

One of these programs is the “Love Thailand Water Bottles” initiative, which Trash Hero World supported with USD 4’300. This program aims to sustainably reduce the amount of plastic bottles that end up on beaches. The bottles are sold for no profit to businesses in Thailand. The businesses sell it with a 3$ profit and in return agree to provide free drinking water refill for all Trash Hero bottles. More than 20’000 bottles have been sold since December 2014 by the communities of Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta and Chiang Mai.

Trash Hero World recently extended the project to nine additional locations in Thailand with a distribution of 1’500 bottles. We look to continue the program’s expansion to Indonesia as well. Bottle production requires two months, which is why an initial investment is necessary in order to make the bottles available to businesses. Once the bottles are sold the next order is placed.

Koh Tao for example bought 60 “Love Thailand” Bottles to convince businesses to participate and have now launched their own “Love Koh Tao” bottle with 15 participating businesses and 1’000 bottles.

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Amelia MeierSponsor Update 2016 (Part I): Trash Hero Bottles

Trash Hero Ban Krut Wins Award

by Amelia Meier on 13/08/2016 No comments
13 August 2016 – Trash Hero Ban Krut
On the occasion of Ban Krut’s celebration for the Queens Birthday, Trash Hero Ban Krut won an award for doing something sustainable for it’s community. The official statement reads:
“Ban Krut municipality proudly presents to Trash Hero Ban Krut our recognition for conducting good deeds example an setting a good example for our society. Granted on the 12th day of August 2016 by Thongchai Petchsakulthong, Mayor of Ban Krut”
Proud to be honored, 12 Heroes representing all the past, current, and future Trash Heroes of Ban Krut joined the parade, which started at the train station and ended at the tessaban. See more information about this chapter here.
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Amelia MeierTrash Hero Ban Krut Wins Award

Trash Heroes on Water

by Amelia Meier on 15/06/2016 No comments

15 June 2016 – Trash Hero Bangkok

During our first cleanup in Bangkok just recently some of our Trash Heroes took to the water and collected trash while on standup paddle boards. How awesome is that?

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Amelia MeierTrash Heroes on Water

Trash Hero Pattani’s Record-Breaking

by Amelia Meier on 01/06/2016 No comments

01 June, 2016 – Trash Hero Pattani (Thailand)

Trash Hero Pattani have just completed their “Clean Up #12”, and have broken various records doing so. First off, 140 (yes, that’s one-hundred-and-forty!) Trash Heroes showed up: 5 from the governor team, 15 heroes, and 120 from from มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ (the Prince of Songkhla University).

For this cleanup, they went once again to Laem Ta Chi Cape, where they’d cleaned up before and felt like they hadn’t made much of an impact. Altogether they gathered 430kg (yes, that’s four-hundred-and-thirty!) of trash. 75kg alone were broken glass and bottles, a total of 20kg were flip flops, and the rest was made up of all types of plastic packaging and fishing equipment. All the while they educated participants on waste management, and had a lot of fun.

It’s been three months since Trash Hero Pattani got going. 431 heroes in total have participated, 1856.3 kg have been collected, and there is no end in sight!

Trash Hero Pattani are amazing (follow them here on Facebook), and we are so proud to count them as part of this movement. What’s more, they have been able to obtain support from the Chief Administrator of SAO, whose kind help contributes to making this effort a great one.

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Amelia MeierTrash Hero Pattani’s Record-Breaking