Social Activities

On 10 March 2022, Channel 3 by Mr. Charkrit Direkwattanachai, EVP-Corporate and Communications Affairs, joined a seminar and an open-house event under “Koh Klang: Community Model on Integrated Waste Management Project” at the Queen's 80^th Birthday Anniversary, 100^th Celebration of Ministry of Transport Garden (Sukhumvit 48/1), held by Dow Thailand Group, in collaboration with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE), Koh Klang Community, Khlongtoei District Office, and other project partners.

             Koh Klang has been able to manage waste so efficiently that it can reduce the amount of waste in participating households by more than 50%, or up to 4.9 tons per year. In the past year, even during the outbreak of COVID-19, this figure has been achievable because people in the community have realized the value of different resources and can transform seemingly useless waste into the products that can generate more value and income while reducing expenses within the community by as much as 107,400 baht per year. Dow Thailand Group has contributed in support of Koh Klang as a model community and produced free handbooks in form of pocket book and e-book of comprehensive waste management, which provides many simple but practical ways to make use of waste”

“Koh Klang Community has 56 households and 230 residents. Earlier, it was seen as a very crowded and deteriorated community, allegedly responsible for dumping garbage into the river and the canal. However, due to the great determination of all community members upon the project’s implementation, this negative image has been completely changed. The community area has been renovated in such a way that it will eventually have very beautiful landscapes and views with a systematic waste separation point. The products derived from such effective waste management, e.g., biogas, can be used for cooking in the community for up to 720 hours, saving about 9,600 baht per year in energy costs. In addition, many kinds of garbage have been made used of to produce a variety of products which are all beneficial to the community in terms of waste management, sanitation, product utilization, additional income, cost savings, etc. Since the project has successfully raised the awareness of efficient use of resources, it is considered a model learning center from which other communities can apply the concepts of waste management to their own areas”. said by Mr. Supot Katetopragran, Commercial Director of Dow Thailand Group.

“The success of waste management is one of BMA's key policies. In particular, the community is allowed to participate in the early stages of sorting waste under the BMA campaign ‘Mai Tay Ruam (never mix different types of garbage together)’, which is designated to encourage all households to sort the garbage before disposal. This campaign is believed to enhance the efficiency of waste management and help relieve the task burdens of BMA officials in terms of sorting the non-contaminated dry waste, cleaning the garbage, processing the wet waste into products with more added value, and so on. Moreover, the appropriate management for each type of waste will help reduce the amount of waste that is now exceeding the limited landfills. We have been working hand in hand with the community to change their attitudes towards waste, encouraging them to understand that waste is a valuable resource with more added value if it is used, stored, recycled, and developed in a proper manner”. said by Mr. Jakkapan Phiewngam, Deputy Bangkok Governor.

As a leading public media, BEC Group placed utmost importance on waste management by presenting news and information concerning waste issues, including raising awareness on the importance of waste management while fostering a waste management mindset. The Company also publicized the positive and negative impacts of waste management that may occur within Thai society. At the same time, the waste sorting process was educated and practiced among corporate employees to ensure the concrete outcome of the Company’s waste management performance.