Coastal Cleanup 2021
The Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day was held on September 18, and for the 19th consecutive year HMC employees and their families contributed their day to assist the clean up effort. The International Coastal Cleanup Day is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September.
Over the last several years HMC customers have also joined the effort along with our colleagues which has been very much appreciated. However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HMC did not invite customers to participate. Hopefully customers can be part of the team again next year.
During the cleanup HMC employees and their families followed what is called D-M-H-T-T-A to align with the company COVID protocol. (DMHTTA refers to the Thailand Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health recommendation that stands for:
Distancing - Mask wearing - Hand washing - Temperature - Testing - Application
This year for the International Coastal Cleanup Day, 105 HMC employees and families members donated their time and considerable energy to the effort. In total, 9,124 pieces of beach litter where removed from the beaches. These items of litter can be categorized into:
- Organic waste: 2,236 pieces
- Recyclable waste: 6,195 pieces
- Dangerous waste: 593 pieces
Applying a new approach to the Coastal Cleanup in 2021, HMC allowed that employee and family member participants, may go to any beaches in the Rayong Province, including Saengchan, Laemcharoen, Namrin, Payoon, Pla and others during the period of 1-17 September to collect beach litter and then relay the information back to our Public Affairs and CSR Department via QR code.
Thailand has some of the world's best beaches but unfortunately many are spoiled by litter, much of it made from different forms of plastics and derivative materials disposed of incorrectly.
With the ocean and coastal waste crisis finally receiving global attention, Thailand is becoming aware that it has a significant waste management problem. Public understanding of the proper everyday disposal of waste products is essential for the environment and the quality of life for all.
HMC Polymers, firmly believes there are tangible and realistic solutions to the plastics environmental problem that will assist industries that utilise plastics, and the consumers worldwide that benefit from their many advantages, to move forward together sustainably.
We sincerely thank the HMC employees and their families who contributed their valuable time to assist this worthy effort for the benefit of our local community.