Light of Morning Dispels Romance of Loy Krathong

Workers collect krathongs Friday morning from a pond inside Kasetsart University in Bangkok.
Workers collect krathongs Friday morning from a pond inside Kasetsart University in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Although it was the first full-blown Loy Krathong celebration in two years, the morning-after waste in Bangkok did not increase much from last year.

In its annual accounting of waste deposited in the capital’s waterways overnight, City Hall said Friday it had collected a total of 841,327 krathongs from across the capital by 6am. That was just under 4 percent more than last year, while those made of organic and degradable materials increased to over 94 percent of all krathongs, according to administrators.

46510636 1587466491352966 2761417203982008320 n 696x392Gov. Aswin Kwanmuang praised the public for recognizing the impact the festival has on the environment as only 44,883 styrofoam krathongs were recovered, about 1 percent less than last year.

The most foam krathongs were found in the Rat Burana district, with the most krathongs overall in Lat Krabang district.

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Read: See This Year’s Loy Krathong All Over the Kingdom (Photos)

All krathongs cleaned up from the water last night will be disposed of, with those made of biodegradable materials going to a natural fertilizer factory in the Nong Khaem district. Foam or non-degradable krathongs will end up in landfills.

The cleanup went on similarly across the nation. Here’s how it looked elsewhere.

Volunteers and public workers collect krathongs from a canal in Uthai Thani province.
Volunteers and public workers collect krathongs from a canal in Uthai Thani province.
A large amount of krathongs piled up in the moat in Korat.
A large amount of krathongs piled up in the moat in Korat.
Krathongs washed up under a pier in Ubon Ratchathani province.
Krathongs washed up under a pier in Ubon Ratchathani province.
Workers clean up krathongs from a pond in the Sukhothai Historical Park.
Workers clean up krathongs from a pond in the Sukhothai Historical Park.
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Related stories:

Nation Gears Up for Full-Blown Loy Krathong (Photos)

Bangkok Wakes to Less Loy Krathong Mess Than Usual