What can we do to clean up our surroundings and keep Laos garbage free?

These posts on Facebook show garbage strewn around the railway station in Luang Prabang province, which is unsightly, unhygienic, and does not impress visitors. Vientiane Times asked for people’s thoughts on ways to encourage better behaviour.

Ms Vanthong Keobandith, a resident of Vientiane: If we want to keep beauty spots clean, we should improve our thinking and mindset, and become more environmentally aware. We should take more responsibility for our actions, and dispose of our rubbish in the proper place, or take it home with us. I saw in a video clip that there were lots of rubbish bins in the area, but they were all full and plastic bags and bottles were littering the ground round about. I think the authorities should organise more garbage collections around the railway station. It’s important that we keep our country as unspoiled and garbage free as possible.

Ms Hong Lathsamy, a resident of Luang Prabang province: It’s quite hard to keep Laos clean because most people aren’t well educated about the problem and regulations on the issue aren’t tough enough or enforced. So no one cares what they do with their garbage. The terrible environmental impacts of plastic bags should be a topic that’s taught in schools so that, as they grow up, young people will choose to carry and store items in reusable, biodegradable bags. A clean environment protects biodiversity and is attractive to visitors. Everyone needs to take responsibility for keeping Laos beautiful.

Ms Poupe Phommasen, a government official in Sisattanak district, Vientiane: This problem would not happen if everyone was more responsible and considerate. I think we should follow the rules and be more mindful, such as by reducing the use of plastic products, not throwing rubbish around and, importantly, picking up after yourself. We should also take care not to disturb wildlife.

Mr Khen, a resident of Xaysettha district, Vientiane: Tian station has just opened and is attracting more visitors. Now that the government has reopened Laos to visitors, I think it’s important that we try to keep everywhere clean. If you see rubbish lying around, pick it up. If we all encourage each other to keep the places we visit clean, we will have a much nicer environment. This would help attract more tourists and then we can further develop areas in ways that ensure cleanliness. If we can teach everyone to play their part in cleaning up after themselves and helping each other to pick up litter, we will have more clean and unspoiled places to visit and take pictures.

Ms Sengkhamnoy Vongxay, a resident of Chanthabouly district, Vientiane: Unfortunately, people think it’s ok to make a mess and that because they’ve paid a fee to enter a site someone else will clean it up. But they don’t seem to understand that this is a difficult job and that inconsiderately leaving cans and other rubbish lying around, even in rivers, can harm aquatic creatures. Those responsible for managing locations of any kind should put up signs telling people what they can do and cannot do in the area.

Ms Toulan Phalasing, a student at the National University of Laos: If I could do one thing to preserve the environment I would encourage people to realise how important the environment is and that, without clean air and water, humans would become extinct. We should take time to think about this and change our behaviour before it’s too late, remembering that “it’s better to be safe than sorry”.

By Lamphone and Patithin
(Latest Update May 19, 2022)