Gen Anupong tackles Koh Samui’s trash problem
INTERIOR Minister General Anupong Paochinda today (October 31, 2018) went to Koh Samui tourist island to resolve the problem of overflowing garbage as this affects the country’s image, Thai News Agency reported.
Gen Anupong held talks with Surat Thani province officials, and after handing over the policy for the 14 southern provinces, stressed that they follow the strategy laid out and quickly resolve drug and environment problems, particularly overflowing garbage.
This followed reports by Japanese media that there is 300,000 tons of trash left to be disposed of on the island.
Koh Samui, which is the country’s third biggest island, has a huge pile of 300,000 tons of garbage which has not been eliminated for over 10 years.
Meanwhile each day 100-150 tons of trash remains to be eliminated and the municipality usually buries it at a 35-rai landfill in Maret subdistrict. However all the waste trenches at this landfill are now full, while the incinerator had broken down and has been left that way for a long time.
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Top: Tourist enjoying themselves at a Koh Samui beach. Photo: Thai News Agency
In-text: Gen Anupong talking to Surat Thani officials today. Photo: Thai News Agency