PATTAYA, Thailand – At Nongprue Municipality, East Pattaya, the Public Health Administration Division of the Department of Public Health and Environment organized a Recycling Bank activity. This initiative aims to encourage the public to bring recyclable waste, such as paper, plastic, glass bottles, cans, and metal, to sell to the municipality. The municipality offers purchase prices higher than the market rate.
Each time residents sell their waste, they receive a Recycling Bank passbook to record the amount and value of the waste sold. Residents can withdraw their earnings at any time using their Recycling Bank passbook.
The Recycling Bank activity will take place every third Friday of the month, allowing residents to bring recyclable materials for sale between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. This program applies the principles of a banking system to encourage waste separation and recycling among the community.
Members sell their recyclables to the municipality, where the waste is sorted, weighed, valued, and recorded in their passbooks. Prices are determined based on rates negotiated by the Recycling Bank committee with waste buyers.
The event saw a steady stream of residents bringing their accumulated recyclables to sell, reflecting strong participation and enthusiasm for the program.
