10 things you can do to reduce your environmental impact while in Thailand

Here at Wicked Diving, we do all we can to reduce our impact on the environment.  As a dive shop, we know the choices we make can have a big impact.  We use a lot of cleaning supplies, so using natural products makes a big difference.  It takes a lot of fuel to run our trips, so by using bio-fuels, we make a big impact.   But you as a tourist can also make an impact.   You might not realize how many things you can do as a tourist in Thailand, but here’s just a few.

1)  Re-use your water bottles.   Thailand is a hot country and you should be drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated.   But that can mean a lot of used plastic.  Try to buy a water bottle holder like the one pictured and re-use the same bottle day to day.   Most hotels and shops will have a water cooler to refill it with.   The large bottles for those cooler machines only cost the shop about 25 cents, so don’t feel shy going in to a shop just to refill your bottle even if you don’t intend to shop there. 

2)  Take buses rather than planes.  The bus network in Thailand is very efficient and is much more eco-friendly than taking planes everywhere.  There are even VIP style buses with more legroom than a first class flight.

3)  Minimize your destinations and maximize your fun.  If you only have a week in Thailand, don’t try to fit in 4 different destinations.  Most people don’t know that you can usually find everything you want within a short distance of just one place.  For example, if you planned to go trekking in the mountains up north, stay in a bamboo lake hut in Pai, elephant trekking in Chiang Mai, shopping in Bangkok’s fancy malls, and diving in the Similan Islands, you can actually do all of those things within a couple hours of Khao Lak.  We’ve got the Khao Sok rainforest for trekking and lake huts to stay in, elephant rides in Phang-Nga, diving from Khao Lak to the Similans and shopping in Phuket, all within an hour and a half of Khao Lak.  You could do everything you wanted to do without spending half your vacation traveling.

4)  Try to use operators who are committed to the environment.  Generally, any shop with the word “Eco-” in their name is using it more for marketing than a core value.  Don’t be afraid to ask the person behind the desk what they do for the environment and make it a point to book with the shops that do a little more, even if it means charging a little more.

5)  Recycle.  Thailand’s recycling program consists of individual collectors who ‘rescue’ recyclable trash from whats been thrown away and sell it for money.  Help make their job easier by putting cans and bottles in a separate bag before throwing it out.  You can even put it next to the trash can, or anywhere conspicuous.  Don’t worry about feeling bad about not having put it IN the trash can, it will get picked up.

6)  Take your old batteries home with you.  Thailand does not have a good battery recycling program.  There used to be one in Phuket, but it’s since been shut down.  At our Similan Diving center we’re keeping all our old batteries until there is a new program, but that may be another couple of years.  So please don’t throw your batteries out, pack them away and take them back to your own country where they’ll be properly recycled.

7)  Rent a bicycle rather than a motorcycle.  Most cities and towns now have somewhere to rent bikes.  Its good exercise, you’ll see more on a bike, and its safer than speeding along on a moped.  All while doing a little bit for the planet. 

8)  Support local restaurants.   Most local restaurants buy their food locally, which means it doesn’t have to travel so far.  Chains like fast food restaurants have their food and packagings delivered amazing distances.   So try some local dishes, even if you’re not sure what you’re ordering.  You might find some new favorite dishes and make some new friends in the process.

9)  Choose a fan room over an air-con room.   Air conditioning is one of the biggest users of electricity.  Many visitors find the heat of Thailand overwhelming, but a well-ventilated room with a fan can be quite comfortable and the open windows will allow you to experience the night-time song of the geckos. 

10)  Refuse the plastic bag.   No matter where you shop in Thailand, and no matter what you buy, the clerk will want to give you a plastic bag – even for one item.   Just say no.   “May sai toong”, means “don’t put it in a bag”.   Carry an extra plastic bag in your pocket or purse in case you do need one, and if its just for one item, just refuse one.   7-11 is one place that will try to bag everything.   Just politely say no, and say “Save earth”.   Its the slogan for the Thai environmental programs, and most Thai people understand it in English.  By refusing the bag and saying “Save earth” we can all remember why we’re not taking that bag.

So there are just 10 things you can do as a tourist to help make Thailand just that much greener.

About the Author

Paul Land – A diving instructor and fish nerd based in Khao Lak, Thailand. Fortunate enough to dive the Similan Islands almost every day.

http://wickeddiving.com

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