Backlash grows over eco-damage from Loi Krathong plastic
Voices on social media are being raised to advocate for refraining from floating “sea lanterns” during Loi Krathong on November 27 this year.
With the goal of reducing waste and environmental harm, prominent environmental social pages are actively sharing the message from various perspectives.
“Monsoongarbage Thailand”, for example, urges the cancellation of releasing sea lanterns onto water bodies, as has been a long tradition as well as a tourist draw.
Their stance is clear: “Cancel sea lantern releases, and if reduction isn’t possible, cease floating them in open water sources.”
They note that the release of the often plastic floating lanterns in unmanaged water bodies results in significant environmental damage, including litter and metal debris on beaches and canals.
The tradition should be discontinued “unless a well-managed system is in place,” argues the page. “This is not an apology to the Goddess of Water; it’s about killing the sea and rivers. Humans are peculiar creatures. We worship the unseen while harming the visible nature.”
The "Environman" page delivers a concise and practical message for November 27. “Reduce waste, skip lanterns.” What to float instead, they ask, going on to provide eco-friendly lantern alternatives, such as floating lanterns in enclosed spaces, retrieving lanterns after use, using ice lanterns, minimizing decorations, floating a single lantern with a group, avoiding paper-sewing pins in lanterns, skipping foam and food lanterns, avoiding sky lanterns, and opting to “float” lanterns online.
The “Trash Mission Thai Mueang” page promotes responsible lantern releases, encouraging people to minimize environmental impact by abstaining from floating lanterns in the sea. They suggest limiting lantern releases to enclosed spaces to contain waste, creating eco-friendly lanterns, refraining from using materials harmful to aquatic life, and ensuring that no litter is left behind during lantern events.
A growing number of young people support the “no lanterns in open areas” approach. They believe that while paying respect to the Goddess of Water is important, it should be done without harming water sources and the environment.
After each year’s lantern festival, the sight of numerous discarded lanterns floating in open water is common. Despite authorities’ efforts to collect litter annually, some of the floats contaminate the environment and pose a danger to aquatic life.
According to data from the Department of Environment, the Water Management Office, and the District Office, lantern litter collection statistics over the past six years in the Greater Bangkok area are as follows:
• 2017: 811,945 lanterns collected
• 2018: 841,327 lanterns collected
• 2019: 502,024 lanterns collected
• 2020: 492,537 lanterns collected
• 2021: 403,235 lanterns collected
• 2022: 572,602 lanterns collected
Some 24,516 pieces of foam lantern litter were found in 2022, representing a 4.3% increase compared to the previous year’s 3.5%.
