I co-founded the Wastebusters project, a waste management initiative aimed at reducing plastic waste and supporting local communities by transforming plastic waste into goods of higher value. The project began in early 2024, and since then, our team has worked tirelessly to collect plastic waste from around our school. To facilitate this, we set up five dedicated plastic recycling bins throughout the school, ensuring that the waste is collected and processed responsibly. These bins are regularly emptied and sent to Wat Chak Daeng, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok renowned for its recycling efforts. The temple processes the plastic into essential items like blankets, T-shirts, bags, and other useful goods, which are then distributed to local communities in need.

In addition to our collection efforts, we organized several fundraising events to help cover the costs of processing the waste into upcycled products. We hosted both online and in-person fundraising events through platforms like email, Line, and school events such as the Chinese Day Fair and Fun Fair. Although our in-person sales were a great success, our online sales didn’t generate as much traction as we had hoped. Despite this, we were still able to raise enough funds to continue supporting the project and cover upcycling costs.

Through these collective efforts, we successfully diverted hundreds of kilograms of plastic waste from entering the environment. The products we created were donated to elderly homes, schools, and other organizations that needed these essentials. This experience has been incredibly rewarding and educational, as it taught me the importance of teamwork, communication, and organization. Coordinating with various organizations, managing fundraising events, and dealing with customers provided me with a unique opportunity to develop my leadership and organizational skills.

Most importantly, I realized that by taking action, we can have a significant impact on the environment and the communities around us. The project has shown me that the choices we make, no matter how small, can have a lasting effect on the world we live in.