Plastic waste is the most common and most difficult to decompose. It includes water bottles, plastic bags, foam containers, and fishing nets/ropes. While organic waste such as food scraps, fruit peels, and leaves can be composted but must be properly managed. General waste like face masks, diapers, and snack wrappers is difficult to recycle and must be disposed of appropriately. Recyclable materials such as glass bottles, cans, paper, and PET bottles should be properly sorted for reuse. Hazardous waste, including batteries, light bulbs, and engine oil, must be stored separately and safely. Additionally, marine debris that drifts ashore from the sea or from passing ships poses a significant threat to coral reefs and marine life, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive cleanup and prevention efforts.
Cleaning Island Waste: Protecting Ecosystems and the World's Oceans
Waste left on beaches or islands is highly likely to be washed into the ocean, especially plastic, which can harm marine life and coral reefs. Collecting waste from islands and beaches helps reduce this flow into the sea.
Islands are sensitive to ecological changes. Accumulated waste can alter the structure of beaches, destroy marine habitats, and disrupt the natural balance. Collecting waste on islands plays a vital role in protecting coastal ecosystems.
Many tourists choose destinations based on their natural beauty. If coastal areas are littered, it damages the destination’s image and impacts the economy in the long term.
Waste collection supports sustainable tourism and helps raise awareness among both communities and tourists. Participating in waste collection activities fosters understanding and a sense of ownership of the area. When everyone takes part, positive change can truly happen.
Island Waste Collection and the Importance of World Oceans Day
 
Every June 8 is the World Ocean Day. People all over the world celebrate this day and dedicate themselves to preserving the oceans as a vital natural resource that sustains life and ecosystems worldwide.
Island waste clean-up is one of the most important and directly related activities, particularly in coastal tourism areas.
Waste clean-up should not be just a volunteer activity, the sense of doing this activity should become part of local culture and sustainable environmental management. Especially in island area that should adopt comprehensive waste management models, including sorting, collecting, storing, transporting, and recycling in line with the Circular Economy concept. Waste should be properly disposed of according to material type. Public-private-community partnerships are crucial. Educating and motivating tourists to maintain cleanliness is also important.
Island Waste Management: Learning and Action
The Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) has had a good opportunity and is one of the academic mentor organizations to organize a learning and operational process with leaders and island leaders to support community-based solid waste management. It helps design a waste management system that is appropriate for each island, covering environmental, economic, and social aspects, through the Islands Waste Solution Training. This island leader program strengthening the Potential of Island Leaders, a solution for island waste, adding knowledge, designing activities that are appropriate for the potential of the island, for island community leaders and accommodation operators in the Sustainable Island Network of Thailand. It raises the management level to be more than just collecting waste on the island, joining in pushing for solutions for the sustainability of the island, integrating knowledge on waste collection and management methods that are appropriate for the island area, which should have an effective collection-sorting-recycling system, calculating the carbon footprint of waste management, and providing guidelines for reducing the impact of marine waste on the ecosystem and sustainable tourism.

 
Thailand Sustainable Island Network and 2025 World Ocean Day
The Sustainable Island Network of Thailand and partners of the island network, including the private sector, are ready to announce inviting volunteers from around the world to join the integrated marine, island, beach, mangrove, and coral reef waste collection activity with relevant agencies: “30+ Islands Clean-Up: So Cool Mission 2025” on World Oceans Day 2025, to help set a world record in marine waste collection, promote responsible behavior, reduce waste and carbon emissions, and drive Thai tourism towards sustainability, together with the “3rd Thailand Sustainable Island Tourism Symposium 2025: Island Wonder: Sustain What Sustain Us”, under the theme Island Wonder: Sustain What Sustain Us, during 8–11 June 2025.
Waste clean-up activity on the island is an act for the world. Every piece we pick up from the ground is a step towards protecting the ocean. On this World Oceans Day, let’s take this opportunity to review what we have done and work together for a clean and sustainable future for the ocean.
Compiled and written by Wilavan Noipa, Thailand Environment Institute (TEI)
 

Source: TEI