On 14 September 2026, Walailak University (WU), led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Director of the Center for Academic Services, collaborated with PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) and network partners from various sectors in the area to organize the “Coastal Cleanup for Marine and Coastal Resource Conservation on International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC Day)” at the Ban Nai Thung Blue Swimming Crab Bank Learning Center.
The activity was part of the global observance of International Coastal Cleanup Day, promoting environmental awareness, responsible waste management, marine litter reduction, and the sustainable conservation of coastal areas. The event brought together government agencies, the private sector, teachers and students from Ban Sa Bua School, Pathumanukoon School, Panyasarntham Foundation School, and Ban Nai Thung School. More than 130 participants joined the activity, contributing to tangible efforts to restore and protect marine and coastal resources.
The event featured practical knowledge-sharing sessions and hands-on field activities. These included a session on “Sustainable Waste Management” led by Mr. Phusit Hophet, School of Science, followed by a coastal cleanup at Ban Nai Thung Beach. Participants collected a total of 892 pieces of marine litter weighing 76.5 kilograms. The waste included plastic, hazardous waste, general waste, biodegradable waste, ropes, recyclable materials, foam, rubber, plastic bottles, paper, glass bottles, medicine blister packs, aluminum cans, bottle caps, milk cartons, helmets, tiles, and other materials.
Additional learning stations focused on waste separation and marine litter, with knowledge provided by Mr. Chayaphat Chindarat of Tha Sala Town Municipality. A workshop on making keychains from bottle caps was also conducted by Assoc. Prof. Pratya Krishanaphan, President of the Ban Nai Thung Blue Swimming Crab Bank and Coastal Fisheries Learning Center. Certificates were presented to participating schools and students to recognize their involvement and inspire continued environmental stewardship.
The activity contributed to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water, by taking tangible action to reduce marine litter and pollution and protect coastal ecosystems; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, by promoting waste separation, recycling, and value creation from plastic waste to reduce waste generation; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening collaboration among higher education institutions, the private sector (PTTEP), local government organizations, schools, and communities to support sustainable coastal development.
News by Yari Nukul Center for Academic Services, Walailak University https://cas.wu.ac.th/en/