Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok along with H.E. Mr. Remco van Wijngaarden, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Thailand welcomed Pol. Gen. Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, chaired the activity, as well as executives, network partners, and event participants, launched the Interceptor 019 under the collaborative project for plastic waste management in the Chao Phraya River by Interceptor at the 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary Commemoration Park, Bang Kho Laem District.
“The whole world is connected by water, but water can also carry garbage. If we don’t manage waste at its source, it will end up in common areas in the oceans. The solar-powered garbage collector is not only efficient in collecting garbage but also demonstrates the importance of cooperation. There is no way any one person can make the environment better. Everyone must work together. For example, this time it was a collaboration between both the public and private sectors. It is a reminder that every piece of garbage has an owner, which also leads to a change in behavior in a better direction. Thank you for choosing Bangkok as the location for the Interceptor 019 and thank you to all the sectors that made this project possible. Bangkok will continue to cooperate with everyone in making the environment better,” the Bangkok Governor said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said that on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, I would like to thank the cooperation of all sectors. I would like to admire your commitment and dedication to research and prevent plastic waste from leaking from the land into the Chao Phraya River before it flows into the sea. I am delighted to be here today at the Interceptor 019 launch event. It is considered another technology for managing floating plastic waste in the Chao Phraya River because solving pollution and environmental problems arising from plastic waste requires cooperation from all sectors to be sustainable further.
This project is a collaboration between the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Kingdom of Thailand and The Ocean Cleanup organization, the Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as Bangkok, the Royal Thai Embassy in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, Ecomarine Company Limited, Asian Marine Services Public Company Limited, Coca-Cola, and network agencies. A solar-powered garbage collection boat or Interceptor has been installed in the Chao Phraya River in the Chaloem Phrakiat 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary Park, Rama 3 Road, Bang Kho Laem District. The Environment Department is supporting the project by taking responsibility for collecting and sorting the waste captured by Interceptor 019 to put the plastic back into the recycling process and for proper disposal of other types of waste.
The Interceptor was created by The Ocean Cleanup, a leading global environmental technology non-profit organization that tackles marine waste from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Interceptor’s operation consists of a floating array tethered to a raft-like scrapyard anchored in the river and powered by solar panels and operating autonomously 24 hours a day. It is a garbage collector that reduces the amount of garbage in the Chao Phraya River before it flows into the sea. It can collect 50,000 – 100,000 pieces of garbage per day. The Chao Phraya River is one of 15 rivers in the world that will have this innovation in operation.
In this regard, maintaining cleanliness and storing garbage and weeds in the Chao Phraya River from Rama VII Bridge to Wat Yothin Pradit and the end of Bangna District is approximately 34 kilometers. It is the responsibility of the Environment Department. Garbage will be collected on both sides of the river and in the middle of the Chao Phraya River from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily. In addition, special personnel have been deployed to collect weeds and water hyacinths at important locations such as in front of Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Siriraj Pier, etc. Collected weeds and garbage will be taken to three piers: at the mouth of Bangkok Noi Canal (under Arun Amarin Bridge), under Phuttha Bridge (Ong Ang Canal), and under Rama 9 Bridge (Phra Nakhon side). Then weeds and garbage will be taken to the Nong Khaem dump corruption for disposal.
