Bangkokians use more natural krathongs: governor

He was speaking after reviewing the results of krathong collection in the Bangkok area undertaken by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Environment Department, the Irrigation Department and district offices.
This year the festival was held under Rama VIII Bridge in Bang Phlat district and Klong Ong Ang in Phra Nakhon district. Other districts in Bangkok also celebrated the festival at 30 venues along the Chao Phraya River.

“Staffs and volunteers finished collecting and separating krathongs at 6am. today,” he said. “This year we collected 502,024 krathongs, 96.3 per cent of them or 483,264 krathongs made from natural materials, while 3.7 per cent or 18,760 krathongs were made of foam.”
The governor further revealed that this years’ krathongs are fewer than last year’s by 339,303 krathongs or 40.3 per cent. The ratio of natural material krathong went up from 94.7 to 96.3 per cent, while foam went down from 5.3 to 3.7 per cent. The district with most krathongs collected was Lat Krabang with 33,353, while the Pomprab Sattrupai district had the least with 214. Lat Krabang is also the district with most natural krathongs while Prawet has the most foam krathongs.
“Since we saw fewer krathongs in total this year, the fact that the percentage of natural material krathongs has gone up tells us that significantly more people use natural materials to make krathongs,” said the governor. “Natural material krathongs are good for environment. They will later be sent to Nong Khaem garbage factory to make organic fertilizer, while foam krathongs will be buried.”

Related Story: BMA puts safeguards in place for Loy Krathong celebrations