COERR has implemented the Environmental Conservation Program since October 1999 in all border refugee camps. The program includes awareness raising about natural resources and environmental education to protect the world for the next generation. Ban Mae La, in particular, is the biggest refugee camp, with the population of 38,288 persons as in December 2015, requires the significant planning with community-based management to prevent or reduce undesired impact on water, soil and waste towards the nearby host communities. Waste management is among our concern so our main scheduled tasks, in addition to training, are daily garbage collection, sorting for reusing and recycling; decomposing of food waste as fertilizer, burial and incinerating, which are our effort to reduce the solid waste.

Waste collection by refugee workers, arranged by daily collection schedule zoning.

Waste treatment process through incineration to reduce the volume of solid waste in the landfill area and Weekly spraying disinfectants around landfill surface areas to prevent egg-laying flies and eliminate odor.

Visit to Eco-friendly houses to monitor their waste management practice. These household members had been trained about environment, waste management through garbage sorting and recycling, including vegetable gardening for consumption. Agricultural tools in addition to household cleaning supplies, e.g. soft and hard brooms, watering can, shovel and environment campaign posters were given to the house members during the visit.

Waste Bank Scheme enables refugees to generate some income from waste collecting, sorting and selling for recycling. Household members in this scheme were trained by COERR staff to become aware that many used materials, such as plastic cups, bowls, bags, bottles, etc., could be reprocessed for re-use, as well as to reduce the volume of waste to be thrown away.