🌊 Phang Nga Coastal Clean Up Challenge 2026

On 5 October, more than 690 volunteers joined the fourth annual Phang Nga Coastal Clean Up Challenge, collecting 1.87 tonnes of waste across six beaches in the province.

Organised through the Sustainable Khao Lak Network, the clean-up covered Khao Lak Beach, The Park Beach, Khuk Khak Beach, Laem Pakarang, Bangsak Beach and Thap Tawan Beach.
Of course, our team was happy to join the effort again this year, and you could find us at Khuk Khak Beach! 😊

Across the six beaches, volunteers collected 1,868.2 kg of waste, including:
♻️ 299.3 kg of recyclable plastic
🍾 275.5 kg of glass
🎣 188.5 kg of fishing gear
🧴 134.5 kg of foam
🔩 94 kg of metal
🗑️ 851.4 kg of general waste
⚠️ 15.5 kg of hazardous waste
👟 9 kg of discarded shoes

While general waste made up the largest share, two figures really stand out: 275.5 kg of glass and nearly 190 kg of fishing gear.
Broken glass on the beach is a real safety concern for both locals and visitors.
Better collection and disposal systems could help prevent glass from ending up on our beaches in the first place.
The fishing gear we collected is another reminder that coastal waste doesn’t all come from beach visitors. Some comes from fishing and other activities at sea, where discarded equipment can remain in the marine environment for years.

🌱 Clean-ups are important, but they’re only part of the solution.
We also need better waste management, more responsible disposal habits and closer cooperation between local authorities, businesses and communities. After all, protecting our beaches starts well before waste reaches the shoreline.
The data collected during the challenge helps us better understand the problem and identify where more action is needed. It’s also a good reminder that what happens on land and at sea directly affects the coastline we all enjoy.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who took part, brought a team, provided supplies, helped with waste collection or supported the event behind the scenes. Every bit of help counts! 🙏

#SustainableKhaoLak #PhangNga #KhaoLak #CoastalCleanup #ResponsibleTourism #KeepOurBeachesClean