Feature Stories

Thailand is gearing up for a five-day Songkran festival this year. Songkran, the Thai traditional new year, falls on April 13, which is also National Elderly Day. Two more holidays were later added on April 14 and 15 as National Family Day and Thai New Year Day, respectively, to allow Thais more time to celebrate reunions with their families. Apart from tourism promotion, the extended holiday would help ease traffic congestion because it allowed people more flexibility in planning their trips.

However, the big celebration and festivities bring forth environmental concerns, such as excessive water consumption and plastic waste generation. This raises the question: How can we balance preserving this vibrant tradition while ensuring sustainability for the future?

Songkran has evolved to incorporate sustainable practices in several ways:

• Embracing Cultural Heritage: Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, earned global recognition from UNESCO in December last year as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. There's a renewed emphasis on preserving Songkran's cultural heritage, with more people opting for traditional celebrations. Activities such as palm watering, bathing important Buddha images, splashing water on family and friends, folk plays, games, music, and feasting are integral parts of the festivities. These traditions not only symbolize cleansing, reverence, and good fortune but also foster a sense of community and unity among the Thai people.
• Water Conservation Efforts: To help conserve water, especially as Thailand is experiencing drought, traditional methods like Rod Nam Dam Hua [sprinkling a small amount of water on others] are being encouraged during the Songkran festival. People are urged to refrain from throwing buckets of water and instead use small water guns or spray bottles to conserve water. Additionally, it's essential to avoid leaving taps open and address any leakage.
• Promoting Eco-Friendly Practices: Initiatives aim to promote responsible waste disposal, recycling, and environmental awareness. These efforts mitigate the ecological impact of festival activities and foster a culture of sustainability. This can start with a simple campaign where everyone contributes efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Consumers can bring their own reusable straws, utensils, boxes, and bags when purchasing foods or beverages. Vendors are also promoting the use of reusable containers and recyclable alternatives, significantly reducing plastic waste generated during the festival.
• Waste Management: According to The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Songkran-designated zones such as Khao San Road area yielded about five tonnes of garbage per day, while Silom Road yielded double that amount. Most of the garbage found in Songkran-designated zones consisted of plastic bottles, plastic cups, and food packaging. Proper waste collection and segregation are crucial to reducing waste pollution. The "Mai Te Ruam" campaign by BMA promotes garbage separation at the community level, especially for food and organic waste. Segregating food waste from other types of waste streams can significantly improve waste operation efficiency, with low contamination saving time and resources for manual segregation and drying processes. This, in turn, increases the waste quality for further recycling or waste-to-energy processes.

In addition to recyclable materials that should be collected and sent to recycling facilities, non-recyclable waste, especially single-use plastics, can be managed properly before it ends up in a dumpsite or leaks into the environment. Conversion into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) provides an alternative energy source for industries like cement kilns. This provides an alternative energy source for industries like cement kilns.

"Non-recyclable waste, especially single-use plastics, can be managed properly before it ends up in a dumpsite or leaks into the environment. Conversion into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) provides an alternative energy source for industries like cement kilns. This provides an alternative energy source for industries like cement kilns"

In conclusion, as we celebrate Songkran, let us not only honor tradition but also strive to make it a sustainable and eco-friendly festival. By embracing sustainable practices and preserving our cultural heritage, we can ensure that Songkran continues to be celebrated for generations to come, in harmony with nature and the environment.