Phuket joins Royal project to turn aluminum trash into prosthetic legs

PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Environment Office is calling for all donations of aluminum to donate to a nationwide project that seeks to recycle at least 80 tons of aluminum into prosthetic legs.

The project, initiated by the Prostheses Foundation of HRH The Princess Mother (click here), aims to reduce the volume of garbage and make prosthetic legs more affordable.

“The cost of an imported prosthetic leg is around 10,000 baht, while one made with recycled aluminum will be about 700 baht,” Dr Pornsri Suthanarak said yesterday.

“Examples of the aluminum we can recycle are: cans, ring pulls, lids of power drinks and glass bottled water, mag wheels, parts of bicycles or airplanes, powder cases, crutches, canes and walkers,” she said.

“The national target is 80 tons this year. I have set a target of more than one ton in each of the five provinces in my jurisdiction: Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

“One ton can produce 1,000 prosthetic legs,” Dr Pronsri said.

Donations can be made at any Phuket municipality office or any office of a Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor).

Alternatively, donations can be dropped off at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (click here) or at the Regional Environmental Office 15, located at the parade of offices in front of the Katina Hotel on Sakdidet Road (map here).

Up to 5kg can also be sent by mail, free of charge, through any Thailand Post Office, addressed to:

Pollution Control Office
92 Sam Sen Nai, Phaya Thai
Bangkok 10400

For more information, call 076-219329 or email reo15.org@mnre.mail.go.th

— Saran Mitrarat