Bangkok reported that on 13 Apr 2026, Songkran waste totaled 86.32 tons. The city urged residents to care for the environment by exchanging old water guns for “Naphtha,” which can be processed into new products to reduce plastic waste.
At 14:00 on 14 Apr 2026, Mr. Aekwaranyu Amrapal, spokesperson for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, provided an overview of environmental management and waste collection during the Songkran festival. On 13 Apr 2026, total waste collected was 86.32 tons, comprising 70.77 tons (81.99%) general waste, 4.39 tons (5.08%) recyclable waste, and 11.16 tons (11.93%) food scraps.
Areas with the highest waste volumes included Silom Road in Bang Rak District with 28.73 tons of general waste; followed by Khao San Road in Phra Nakhon District with 17.20 tons; Iconsiam in Khlong San District with 6.87 tons; MCOT Plaza in Huai Khwang District with 4.82 tons; King Power Rangnam in Ratchathewi District with 3.33 tons; Siam Square in Pathum Wan District with 3.14 tons; RCA in Huai Khwang District with 1.50 tons; CentralWorld in Pathum Wan District with 1.30 tons; Benjakitti Park in Khlong Toei District with 1.29 tons; and Wat Suthat Thepwararam in Phra Nakhon District with 0.80 tons.
In 2026, Bangkok invited the public to participate in the "Spread Happiness, Go Green" campaign by collecting all types of unwanted plastic water guns. These are processed into “Naphtha,” a raw material used to produce plastic pellets that can be molded into new products such as chairs, containers, or textile fibers.
From 11 to 13 Apr 2026, a total of 250 water guns were collected. On 13 Apr 2026, at three main collection points, the numbers were: 108 plastic water guns separated at the Songkran event on Khao San Road, Phra Nakhon District; 70 at the Silom Road Songkran event, Bang Rak District; and 5 at the World Water Festival 2026 at Benjakitti Park, Khlong Toei District. The total number of plastic water guns collected on 13 Apr was 183.
Mr. Aekwaranyu added that Bangkok deployed staff fully to maintain cleanliness and safety. He expressed gratitude to citizens who celebrated Songkran in line with the 5 P’s (no large water guns, no alcohol, no revealing clothing, no powder, and water conservation) and the 3 practical measures (play politely, maintain health, keep clean). These efforts not only preserve Thailand’s cultural identity for international visitors but also help reduce waste management burdens and protect the environment, supporting sustainable urban development.
