Events are a time for fun, but at the same time, they are also a time for creating a lot of waste. Organizing an event can cause a lot of greenhouse gas emissions from the use of electricity for organizing the event, the travel of attendees, the use of fuel for cooking, and the leftovers after the event, which are difficult to avoid - a lot of waste from event attendees. The most waste is probably plastic bags, water bottles, and leftover food. 

Therefore, I would like to invite everyone to learn about the traditional football match between Chulalongkorn and Thammasat, which has more than 5,000 students and members of the public attending, but has managed to manage a huge amount of waste under the concept of Make a CHANGE, changing, adjusting, and moving society. With support and advice from PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) that takes into account the environment, uses resources with value, and separates and manages waste correctly and efficiently.

How do young people organize activities that are waste-free?

Amidst the thunderous cheers, the creative parade, and the spectacular letter display, the 74th Chula-Thammasat Traditional Football Match was more special than any other year. It not only reflected the unity between the two universities, but also showed the power of the new generation to seriously solve social and environmental problems through the integration of the Waste This Way # campaign to save the world the right way in every part of the event, from around the field, in the parade, to the cheering stands, with the concept of “Reduce, Change, Separate”. 

“Reduce (waste) that is unnecessary.”

Organizing a football event cannot avoid the scorching hot sun, causing participants outside the stadium to frequently visit water booths to refill their bodies with sweet drinks. And of course, in normal circumstances, there would be a lot of waste from single-use plastic cups. But in this event, a strategy was used to campaign for people to bring their own cups to receive free drinks. For those who did not bring their own cups, the event prepared Bio Compostable cups that are biodegradable instead.

The results of the “reduction” can help reduce greenhouse gases by 18,121 kilograms of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting 2,013 trees, reduce the use of single-use plastic cups (Single-Use Plastic) by 2,487 pieces, and reduce waste to landfill by 72%.

“Change: Be environmentally friendly”

The parade and cheering stands of both universities are another important highlight of the football match and reflect the students’ opinions on various issues, from politics, society to the environment. However, when the equipment is finished, it will become waste. Therefore, waste from the parade and cheering stands is managed by separating them to enter the Reuse, Recycle, and Upcycling processes. Recyclable waste will be used to its maximum benefit. The upper cheering stands have been changed to use bioplastic packaging to hold lunch and snacks to energize students, as well as changing to use staff shirts and relief bags from the Upcycling process.

The results of the “change” were 8,880 pieces of bioplastic-coated food containers, 3,700 shirts made from upcycled plastic bottles for cheering staff, and 5,700 bags made from upcycled plastic bottles.

“Separate waste by pouring, throwing, pouring, throwing”

This traditional football match has prepared proper waste separation bins at over 21 locations around the stadium, staff accommodation, and adult reception areas under the guideline of “Pour, Throw, Throw” by starting with pouring water, ice, and food scraps in order before throwing them into the bins, separating them into dry recyclable materials (soft drink cans, paper cups, plastic cups, plastic water bottles, glass bottles), Bio cups, and wet waste such as used tissues, lunch boxes, smoothie cups, hot bags, etc. 

In addition, there was also an introduction to the design of waste separation activities on the letter display stand and the audience stand for students from both universities. The separation bins themselves were designed to be easy to understand and clearly visible in order to separate PET and PE plastic waste that can be recycled.

Summary of the results of "waste separation": 4,992 kilograms of waste can be separated. 

The waste separation process has been completed and can be further developed.

In addition to reducing the amount of waste that has been sorted, it can also be developed to benefit others by upcycling or creating new added value, such as:Plastic bottlesAll collected at the event will be processed into shoes to be given to students in need. Fabric and vinylIt will be used as material to make new bags to give to children in remote areas such as: woodIt will be used to build houses in collaboration with the Mirror Foundation. Food wasteIt will be used as animal feed and fertilizer.Bioplastic wasteBury it to decompose into fertilizer or use it as a nursery pot.

The important thing about the Chula-Thammasat traditional football match is not the win or loss on the field. When the competition period ends, the friendship and memories remain in the heart, but every piece of trash that occurs at the event must continue on its way…

Key ideas from organizing waste at the Chula-Thammasat traditional football match

  • We need to solve the problem from the beginning, which means reducing waste generation or switching to using environmentally friendly products, which will help reduce the use of resources in waste management, both people and energy.
  • Waste that is properly separated can be processed to be transformed into something useful for others. 
  • Organizing an event is not only about building friendship and entertainment, but it can also drive environmental awareness by creating collaboration through creative activities.

Reference list

  • Pafan Nokkaew. (2020). Win-Win. Retrieved from https://readthecloud.co/cu-tu-traditional-football-match/  
  • Thammasat University. (2020). Chulalongkorn Traditional Football – Thammasat University, No. 74 MAKE A CHANGE change 
  • Adjust and move society. Retrieved from https://tu.ac.th/thammasat-cutu-ball-74
  • EVERYTHING TEAM. (2020). Learn the “Reduce, Change, Separate” approach
  • In the 74th Chula-Thammasat Traditional Football Match. Retrieved from https://www.iameverything.co/contents/gc-waste-this-way
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