Waste to Waves: Boosting Rayong's Circular Economy
The Youth Fund and TrackLab Youth launched "Waste to Waves" in Rayong, turning marine waste into economic value and upskilling local fishermen.
- A youth-led initiative is turning discarded fishing nets and other coastal waste into a source of income for 45 households in a Rayong fishing community.
- Local fishermen are being equipped with diesel engine maintenance skills through workshops, helping to lower their operational costs and reduce business downtime.
- The project combines waste recycling with practical skills training to create a sustainable business model that cleans the marine environment while boosting local economic resilience.
Two youth-led organizations are proving that environmental conservation and community economic development can go hand in hand.
The Youth Fund and TrackLab Youth partnered to launch the "WASTE TO WAVES" initiative at the Phra Chedi Klang Nam Mangrove Learning Center.
The project introduces a sustainable business model to the Kaoyod Small-Scale Fishing Community by transforming coastal waste into tangible economic opportunities.
Turning Nets into New Value
A major pillar of the project is the expansion of the community's Recycle Waste Bank. Led by Titapat Ratanarat, President of The Youth Fund, volunteers developed the facility to serve as a central hub for waste sorting.
The bank actively collects "Ghost Gear" discarded fishing nets that pollute the ocean. Through the "Nets Up" initiative, supported by SCGC's Circular Economy and ESG team, these nets are funneled directly into commercial recycling processes.
This not only cleans the coastal ecosystem but generates new material value for the 45 households in the area.
To further boost local infrastructure, volunteers also produced eco-bricks from recycled waste and planted over one rai of mangrove forests to restore the shoreline.
Engineering Skills for Better Livelihoods
While The Youth Fund focused on waste infrastructure, TrackLab Youth tackled operational efficiency for local businesses.
Pakakorn Thienthong, Founder of TrackLab Youth, alongside experts from Chonburi Technical College, brought engineering skills out of the classroom and into the local docks. They supplied spare parts and led a hands-on diesel engine maintenance workshop for the community's fishermen.
By teaching the fishermen how to inspect, disassemble, and repair critical boat components like starter motors and alternators, the program equips them with the skills to maintain their own vessels.
This directly lowers maintenance costs and minimizes business downtime for the 27 local households that rely on fishing for their primary income.
Ultimately, "Waste to Waves" highlights a successful model of localized ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) action - proving that with the right partnerships, marine waste can become a resource, and community education can drive lasting economic resilience.
