Chula Zero Waste Organizes Trash Ranger

To mark World Environment Day 2026 on June 5, 2026, the Chula Zero Waste initiative, led by the Office of Physical Resource Management, Chulalongkorn University, invited young volunteers to participate in the Trash Ranger & Brand Audit activity. Participants collected litter along Phaya Thai Road, focusing on waste that had been overlooked by street cleaners because it was hidden in bushes both inside and outside the Chulalongkorn University campus. The activity aimed to reduce the risk of this litter being washed into drains and waterways, where it could place additional burdens on the environment and harm wildlife.

After collecting the litter, participants worked together to sort it into different categories so that the waste could be transformed into resources, with each type sent to the most appropriate recycling or disposal stream. Most of the items collected were everyday waste commonly found in public spaces, including plastic water bottles, beer bottles, energy drink bottles, bottle caps, milk cartons, drinking straws, beverage cans, cigarette packs, cigarette butts, single-use containers, snack and candy wrappers, plastic bags, and plastic packaging. Among all the waste collected, the most difficult item to handle was plastic water bottles that still contained urine inside.

One of the participating Grade 9 students offered a thoughtful reflection on the waste collected: “The wide variety of litter we found, from food and drink packaging to cigarette packs, cigarette butts, and even water bottles filled with urine, may have come from people who live on this street or from people who were in such a hurry and had no access to a restroom that they resorted to using a bottle. We can look at this issue from many perspectives, such as a lack of awareness about the consequences of littering or simply carelessness. It also raises ethical questions about disposing of waste properly. Caring for the environment is important. However, for people who are struggling just to make ends meet, environmental responsibility may seem like a luxury that feels removed from them when earning enough money to survive is already a challenge.”

The Chula Zero Waste Project is committed to organizing activities like this on an ongoing basis to encourage young people and university students to become more aware of environmental issues and inspire them to create change, from themselves to society at large. Those interested in participating can follow the project on all of its social media channels for updates on upcoming activities.

Read more at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/418480/