Factory's illegal bread dumping angers residents

Illegally dumped garbage by the side of an unopened road in Surat Thani’s municipality. (Facebook photos/ Suwakhon Ruangnui)

SURAT THANI -- A baked goods factory in Muang Surat Thani has come under fire after it illegally dumped a big pile of waste on a road under construction.

The mayor of Surat Thani municipality, Teerakij Wungmutitakul, on Sunday ordered city officials to use a six-wheeled truck and a backhoe to clear many plastics bags containing expired bread and other baked goods from the side of Samet Riang Road, which is being constructed by Surath Thani’s rural roads office.

City councillor Suwakhon Ruangnui said a pickup truck belonging to Royal Bakery factory dumped the rubbish at the spot twice on Friday evening and a foul odour gradually drifted to a nearby Samet Riang community.

Community leaders tried to stop two Myanmar workers from the factory from unloading the trash but failed. They then took their photos as evidence and alerted municipal officials about the incident.

A municipal official, who inspected the scene and asked not to be named, said the factory’s owner, whose name has not been released, initially argued that his workers had dumped the waste in the bins when they talked on the phone. The businessman later drove to the scene and left without saying anything after he saw the garbage pile.

Mr Teerakij said the factory’s owner would meet with police on Monday for questioning and would be fined 2,000 baht.

But residents are furious at the factory’s misconduct and called for maximum punishment after photos of the bakery truck and garbage bags littering the road were shared on Mr Suwakhon’s Facebook page. The photos were accompanied by a message that read: “This is someone’s selfishness and slopiness.”

Facebook user Kittisak Boonhan called on residents to help boycott the goods produced by the factory and urged concerned authorities to shut down the business.

The incident occurred after provincial authorities recently warned people to strictly comply with regulations on household waste collection or face fines and/or arrest. Officials also promised to reward anyone providing a tip-off about illegal dumping.



