But Phuket’s most treasured natural resource is at risk of being marred by debris, particularly during the monsoon season when trash from other places washes up on our shores.
Michelle, a 27-year resident of Phuket, recognised an urgent need to do something about this.
Toward a Solution
The pandemic lockdown created time and space for Michelle to tackle the persistent problem of marine debris afflicting Phuket.
“There was no dedicated organisation doing this. As a foundation, we could bring everyone together to focus on the problem of cleaning the beaches and managing the rubbish responsibly,” she tells me. “But in the pandemic, no one had the funds to help. So, I created a foundation to raise money elsewhere for this cause.”
Michelle launched the Sustainable Maikhao Foundation (SMF) to promote environmental awareness, education and action.
The first beach cleanup at Mai Khao occurred in June 2020. Three hotels joined the effort. “We were all wearing masks and walking toward a central location on the beach,” Michelle recalls. “It worked well ‒ the start of a good collaboration ‒ and brought everyone together on this issue.”
From that initial effort, SMF has expanded its footprint to include six beaches and two islands, collecting more than 25 tonnes of rubbish in aggregate. This debris would otherwise clutter Phuket’s white sands and sea floor and jeopardise marine life.
Sustainable Maikhao Foundation by the numbers:
- 280 beach cleanups
- 7,820 cleanup volunteers
- More than 25,000kg of waste removed from beaches
- More than 8,000kg of this waste recycled, reused or upcycled
- More than 16,000kg incinerated or landfilled
Shifting Mindsets
“People don’t realise how much rubbish accumulates on Phuket’s beaches,” Michelle says of the shock that often accompanies new volunteers. Each SMF-organised cleanup includes an introductory briefing that describes the magnitude of the rubbish problem and tries to connect everyone to the issue. “Often,” she says, “the beach cleanups help to shift people’s mindsets.”
Cleaning rubbish from Phuket’s beaches is one thing. Disposing all that trash is another.
The rubbish collected from the cleanups is sorted into 16 categories, then weighed and recorded to gather data, which is shared with other local and international organisations. Of the 16 classifications of rubbish, only three are sent to the incinerators and landfill. The debris from the remaining 13 categories is either recycled, upcycled or reused.
Partnerships
Four months after conducting its first beach cleanup, Sustainable Maikhao Foundation held its first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event. These partnership events ‒ involving hotels, governmental organisations and local and international companies ‒ are a key pillar of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts.
In addition to local partners, SMF works with out-of-town organisations to provide a CSR component for various conferences that are held in Phuket. Typically, these organisers want to create for their delegates a team-building opportunity that makes a positive impact. Banks, energy firms, retailers and management consultants are some of the Thai and foreign organisations who have done their part to help protect Phuket’s natural beauty through these corporate partnerships.
Eco Education
Education is another vital part of Sustainable Maikhao Foundation’s mission. Since launching educational workshops three years ago, over 150 seminars have been delivered on ocean conservation and rubbish management. More than 5,000 participants of all ages now better understand and appreciate Phuket’s fragile marine ecosystem after participating in these workshops.
By raising awareness about Phuket’s marine debris problem, educating on viable solutions and promoting action, SMF works to sustainably protect Phuket’s most valuable natural resource.
For better or worse?
Michelle, a native South African, fell in love with Mai Khao during her first visit to the island nearly three decades ago. Recalling the rice paddies, buffalo and abundance of leatherback turtles that populated the area, she’s inspired to help conserve and sustain this beautiful natural environment.
I asked the founder of Sustainable Maikhao the central question on my mind: nearly five years on, is the problem getting bigger or smaller?
In many respects, there is noticeable improvement, Michelle asserts. “Awareness is much better. More groups, especially schools, universities and community organisations are getting involved. And there’s less long-term rubbish than before,” she declares. Long-term rubbish is debris that has accumulated on the beaches over time and often embeds in beach vegetation.
“BUT,” she then interjects after an extended pause. “There’s much more plastic consumption today, some of which ends up in the waters and on the beaches. The amount of cleanups does not balance the amount of plastic usage. We’re making progress, but there’s much more work to be done.”
Her final words to me: “There are many things we can do. But we need more volunteers and partners to do more.”
The Sustainable Maikhao Foundation welcomes interested corporate partners and volunteers to join the ongoing effort to connect and empower the community to preserve Phuket’s natural environment. https://sustainablemaikhaofoundation.org/.