At 80 years old, Bunlert Nutnom never expected to be walking Pattaya’s streets every day collecting trash to get by. But she also never expected to be caring for an infirm husband and two small grandchildren.
She’s been collecting trash for 10 years, scooping up five plastic drink bottles in exchange for a single-baht. She makes about 10,000 baht a month, which barely covers rent and expenses for her family. She starts her day out on the street at 5 a.m. and doesn’t return until afternoon. Three years ago she was hit by a truck. These days she often feels ill. Her feet and stomach hurt and she has to rest every 100 meters.
Bunlert doesn’t get a lot of help. Her husband is too ill to work, she said, and her grandchildren are orphans; their parents killed when the kids were less than 3 years old. She has other children, but they live far away. She said they never send her money or even ask about the children, who are now primary school students at Ban Nernplabwan School.
These days 80-year-old bottle collector Bunlert Nutnom often feels ill. Her feet and stomach hurt and she has to rest every 100 meters.
People who see the little old lady picking up garbage do feel sorry for her. Some give her more recyclables to sell.
Life doesn’t actually have to be this hard for Bunlert. She is unable to apply for help from the government because she no longer lives in her original hometown. Besides, the octogenarian says, a handout of a few hundred baht a month wouldn’t make much difference in her life.
Bunlert said she accepts her lot in life and will continue to walk the streets until she no longer can. Otherwise, she said, she has no idea what will happen to the children.
