National Park in Thailand Mails Trash Back to Campers Who Littered

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Some campers in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park are being reminded of their trashy behavior during their visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site, located about 100 miles northeast of Bangkok. Government officials have packaged up the garbage they left behind and mailed it back to them — to stress the importance of not littering in the natural environment.

The garbage, which appeared to include plastic beverage bottles and chip bags, was sent back to the campers with a note: “You have forgotten some of your belongings at Khao Yai National Park.”

The move was spearheaded by Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Varawut Silpa-archa, who reminded people in a Facebook post on Sept. 14 to take their trash with them upon departure, especially because of the impact it can have on animals looking for food. He added that if they didn't, he would pick up the junk, put it in a box, and return it to their home as a souvenir.

The following day, he updated followers on the situation in another post with photos of the packed trash: “The garbage that tourists left in the park is now packed into the box. It's ready to be returned to the owner of the garbage already. And the park officer has admitted to the police officer. Again, the dumping garbage in the park is a crime.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/national-park-in-thailand-mails-trash-back-to-campers-who-littered/ar-BB19hakf?li=BBnb7Kz

I think our parks should do this

[flor-de-jasmim]

1. Agrred, And it would help the postal service!

[Silent3]

2. I hope they're charged for the pick up and shipping costs...

...when this is done, in addition to something at least on the lower end of the range of fines.

[Submariner]

3. Return their trash plus 2 year ban

from all fed and state parks

[ret5hd]

4. Absolute asshats. Spouse and I camp...VERY OFTEN.

We carry extra trash bags with us at all times.

At every site we do an "initial pickup" of any trash just so we can enjoy the spot without looking at someone else's trash.
During our camp, we pick up any trash we see as we idle around the site.
We pick up trash we see hiking.
Before leaving we do another walkthrough to make sure the place is as clean as we can.

I swear, sometimes I think camping has made my misanthropic attitude worse.

On edit: To make it worse, the places we camp are FREE...national forests, blm land, Corp of Engineers land, etc. IT's FREE...and they still trash it. You get to use something as beautiful as that for FREE and you can't even be bothered to cart your goddamned candy wrappers and paper plates out. F'in pigs.

[yonder]

8. +1. You do right when it shouldn't be necessary.

Public lands especially. Yahoo camping drives me nuts.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Excellent idea!

[iluvtennis]

12. + 1. nt

[Bev54]

6. Happy to hear that.

I lived in Thailand for 4 years in the early 2000's and the garbage was horrendous. I lived on Koh Samui and ex-pats helped change minds there, starting a recycle centre and pickup for recycling. It did not take long for the Thai's to comply and change their ways. It is nice to see it is happening all over Thailand now.

[AllaN01Bear]

7. too bad we cant do this to people who liter our streets here . riot.

[Dem2theMax]

9. When I see someone drop trash on the ground,

I pick it up, walk over to them, hand it back to them while I say, 'excuse me, but I think you dropped this.'
And I walk away.

I've done this many times in the past. Right now, while the country is insane, I won't do it because someone would probably try to kill me.

I'm with you. We should be doing this here as well.
And mail it COD.

[Vdizzle]

10. That's awesome.

But I agree that in this country right now, you’d likely be assaulted or sadly shot. Trumpers no doubt. No respect for anything. Well at least no respect for anything beautiful and lasting longer than their pathetic lives. But hey, the 2nd coming is happening soon and they will be whisked away to heaven. Screw what the grandchildren might inherit as a planet. They got theirs and owned the libs on the way there!

[Dem2theMax]

11. I think my dad was Mother Nature in disguise.

He respected every inch of this planet, and he passed that respect on to me. He could never walk by a piece of trash without picking it up and throwing it away properly. And I have never in my life thrown a piece of trash anywhere other than in a trash can. It's totally against my nature.

[2naSalit]

13. It's great idea.

As a former park ranger and forest protection officer, I would pick stuff up if that's what I got to do with it. Too bad you can't do that with campfires left burning.

[Totally Tunsie]

14. Funny you mention that...

Last year I e-mailed a complaint to L.L. Bean about one of their TV ads. It depicted three campers in their individual hammocks strung between two tall trees, one above the other.
As they wake, they wish each other a "good morning". It was a great ad, except for one thing...their campfire from the previous evening was still sending spirals of smoke! My comment to them was that no self-respecting camper would ever go to sleep without flooding the campfire first.

They stopped the ad immediately and sent me a nice response.

[2naSalit]

15. Well done!

Too many people think that Smokey Bear is going to come along after they leave and put it out for them.

I was part of a group who worked on updating messaging for safety and fire signs a few years back, it was my idea that Smokey Bear should be meaner and not a cuddly buddy. The ads were changed within about a month. I'm kind of proud of that.