Koh Tao Clean Up
Many Koh Tao businesses are passionate about keeping Koh Tao clean, and it shows! However, it was not until 2020 that a self-initiated Koh Tao Clean Up group took action. Steve Hart, a passionate environmental enthusiast and regular island visitor, founded it. The team comprises members from a broad range of businesses, ages, and nationalities. Working towards the dream of a more sustainable future for the island.
About
Every week, participants convene to remove litter from diverse locations, including the beach, shoreline, roadside, and mountains. Depending on the urgency of need, conditions, and logistical requirements, we rotate locations. Based on current averages, the crew is on track to remove over 2000 bags of trash in their first year alone! New members are always welcome. Irrespective of participants’ intentions to remain on the island for a day, a week, or even a decade. If you’d like to join a clean-up during your stay, check out the Koh Tao Clean Up Facebook page.
Mission
The mission involves the transformation of the island through the removal of plastic and litter from shorelines. The mission also strives to repurpose reusable waste, promote recycling whenever feasible, and raise awareness about the harmful impacts of plastic, particularly single-use plastic, on our exquisite ecosystem and the ocean planet.
Projects
- Joining forces with local dive centres to conduct reef clean-ups.
- Creating upcycling projects to make use of the many fishing nets, ropes, flip flops, and other trash items that are collected.
- Partnering with local government to create an official recycling management program and a recycling plant for the island.
- Collaborating with local businesses and key figures in the tourism industry, we aim to encourage a robust volunteer-based service.
- Planning with Precious Plastic, a company that upcycles plastics into useful everyday items like furniture, building materials, mooring buoys, paving slabs, art installations, etc.
- Sorting trash from Koh Tao Clean-ups for upcycling and recycling.
- Educating local authorities and businesses about the worldwide plastic problem, and the need for more sustainable practices.
