Phuket under siege: Tidal wave of trash threatens tropical paradise
The once-idyllic waters and landscapes of Phuket is in danger of being flooded in a rising tidal wave of trash is threatening to overwhelm this renowned tourist haven.
Plastic bottles and empty beer cans now clutter the ocean floor while the island itself groans under the weight of mounting rubbish, casting a shadow over its famed beaches.
Behind the scenes, trucks and tractors toil tirelessly, shuttling thousands of tonnes of waste to a sprawling landfill, the final resting place for much of Phuket’s over 1,000 tonnes of daily garbage, up from 742 tonnes in 2022 and 961 tonnes in 2023.
For residents like Vassana Toyou, the landfill looms large, replacing serene mountain vistas with a stinking reminder of consumption.
“There is no life outside the house; we just stay at home.”
Vassana added that the overpowering stench forces her to double her electricity bills to keep air conditioners and purifiers running.
Thai workers at the Saphan Hill landfill in Phuket. Picture courtesy of Bangkok PostFueled by rapid development and a tourism boom, welcoming 13 million of Thailand’s 35.5 million foreign visitors in 2024, Phuket’s infrastructure strains under the pressure, said Suppachoke Laongphet, deputy mayor of the main municipality.
“The growth of [Phuket] city has been much more rapid than it should be.”
With predictions of reaching 1,400 tonnes of trash daily by year’s end, the island’s single landfill at Saphan Hin is at breaking point.
Local Phuket officials are in a race against time with plans to slash waste by 15% within six months, expand landfill capacity, and add a new incinerator. Yet, with only 10% of rubbish recycled and 60% classified as organic waste, solutions must dig deeper, said Panate Manomaivibool, Assistant Professor in Waste Management at Burapha University.
“If you just keep expanding more waste incinerators, I don’t think that would be just the solution.”
Emphasising waste reduction and separation, he advocates for long-term strategies that transcend short-term fixes.
In a bid to turn the tide, a “garbage bank” trial began in the Samakkee Samkong community, reported Bangkok Post. If effective, it could signal a new chapter in Phuket’s journey towards sustainability.
As the island battles a torrent of trash, the stakes couldn’t be higher for preserving this slice of paradise, a task as daunting as it is essential.
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