Under a campaign called “Big Cleaning Day”, organised by Phuket City Municipality, about 600 officials and volunteers joined forces to carry out the mass clean-up.
A further 2.6 tonnes of kratong and rubbish were collected at Suan Luang (Rama IX Park), also in Phuket Town.
The clean-up teams comprised officials from Phuket City Municipality, Rassada Municipality, Koh Kaew Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), Phuket Provincial Administration Organization as well as local businesses.
The teams removed kratong, picked up trash, cut grass and cleaned the streets
“We want to keep our city as beautiful and clean as possible for residents and tourists. We also want to encourage people to be in the habit of keeping and wanting their environment unpolluted,” said Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana.
Phuket Vice Governor Khajornkiet Rakpanichmanee, present at the clean-up, added, “Keeping the city clean is an environmental policy of our province and of our central government, and today’s activity is possible because of the teamwork of officials and volunteers.
“We must keep our public parks such as Saphan Hin free of trash and maintain its beauty for those who visit to enjoy.”
While the tonnes of trash were being cleaned up from the two main public parks in Phuket Town, similar major clean-up events were held elsewhere across the island.