Chanthaburi Landfill Closure Leaves Trash Pickers Jobless

Khaosod•Society•10d ago

Reader Briefing

Chanthaburi municipality's permanent closure of the Khao Phlong landfill has rendered approximately 10 local trash pickers jobless, with many elderly individuals struggling to find new means of income.

•The Chanthaburi municipality has permanently closed the Khao Phlong landfill.
•This decision has resulted in immediate unemployment for around 10 trash collectors who previously earned a meager income from the site.
•Several affected individuals, particularly the elderly, are experiencing financial hardship and lack access to state welfare benefits.
•The closure impacts long-term livelihoods, with one woman having supported six children through trash collection for over 25 years.

Overview

•On June 3, 2026, the Chanthaburi Municipality installed signs permanently closing the Khao Phlong landfill.
•The Chanthaburi Municipality declared the Khao Phlong landfill permanently closed and prohibited all types of waste disposal.
•Chanthaburi Municipality officials installed signs announcing the permanent closure of the Khao Phlong landfill and the prohibition of waste disposal.
•Approximately 10 local residents who earned a living collecting trash at the Khao Phlong landfill are now unemployed.
•Several elderly trash collectors, some living temporarily on the landfill site, are facing severe financial difficulties due to the closure.
•The Chanthaburi Municipality ordered the permanent closure of the Khao Phlong landfill, leading to job losses for local trash pickers.
•Some affected trash collectors are ineligible for state welfare benefits, exacerbating their financial struggles.
•For over 25 years, one resident has supported six children through income earned from collecting recyclable waste at the landfill.

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Key Quotes

N.S. Malee

"This landfill closure makes me feel very regretful and lost, as I am getting older and in poor health, and don't know what profession to pursue to support my family."

การปิดบ่อขยะครั้งนี้ ทำให้รู้สึกเสียดายและเคว้งคว้างมาก เพราะอายุเริ่มมากและสุขภาพไม่ดี ยังไม่รู้ว่าจะไปประกอบอาชีพอะไรต่อไปเพื่อเลี้ยงดูครอบครัว

Key Entities

Organization

Chanthaburi Municipality(เทศบาลเมืองชัยนาท)

The municipal authority responsible for ordering the permanent closure of the Khao Phlong landfill.

Place

Khao Phlong Landfill(บ่อขยะเขาพลอง)

The landfill in Mueang District, Chanthaburi, which has been permanently closed by the municipality.

Person

Nang Somjit(นางสมจิต)

A 77-year-old woman affected by the Khao Phlong landfill closure, who previously earned money collecting trash.

Nang Thonglor(นางทองหล่อ)

A 63-year-old woman who has worked as a trash collector for 5 years and is struggling with the closure and welfare card eligibility.

N.S. Malee(น.ส.มาลี)

A 46-year-old woman who collected trash at the Khao Phlong landfill for over 25 years, successfully supporting her six children.

Law

State Welfare Card(บัตรสวัสดิการแห่งรัฐ)

A government welfare program that some affected trash collectors are ineligible for, exacerbating their financial hardship.