No one likes a trash-laden UNESCO site, least of all Luang Prabang. Over the years, several initiatives set out to keep the city clean, but the efforts were often uncoordinated and short-lived. As one project faded, another stepped in to help get rid of the litter that taint the streets and river banks.
Bounthieng Soulivanh, President of the Luang Prabang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted the disunity. It was time for Luang Prabang to get their rubbish clean-up act together.
He wrote the mayor, who agreed to hold a meeting of all the various trash collection projects. Some 40 village chiefs, the city’s Urban Department, business leaders, and donor agency projects such as “Luang Prabang Handle with Care” then gathered at the Luang Prabang View Hotel.
“Luang Prabang has initiated laws concerning trash pickups, but they are not currently followed,” Mr Bounthieng stated.
Somsak Sengta from the Blue Lagoon took centre stage at the meeting. He, along with Goi Alinichit, are the driving force behind one of the city’s clean-up campaigns, Trash Hero. A presentation showcased what the private sector has achieved in garbage collection.
“Our objective is for the Urban Department, which is responsible for trash pickup, and the community to come together on one Friday or Saturday each month, and pick up and remove trash,” Mr Somsak said.
“Luang Prabang has a few initiatives from various stakeholders, who try to bring some unity to their efforts”, he continued. “We need to work together through our village chiefs and their communities to enhance the appearance and cleanliness of Luang Prabang as a UNESCO World Heritage city.”
The meeting resulted in the One Vision – One Direction – One Objective campaign to sustainably maintain Luang Prabang as a green city.
The campaign kicked off on Sunday, 31 March, with 80 people from three villages – Nasamphan, Naxang, and Phonepheng – and staff from Tiger Trail, Angsana Hotel, Xishuangbanna Hotel, and Luang Prabang View Hotel. They collected more than 40 bags of roadside trash, while trimming grass and trees.
Meanwhile, the 100-member Trash Hero Team, after a three-month hiatus, took to the banks of the Kem Khan River.
“Today’s effort shows we are able to work hand in hand to achieve what is required,” Mr Somsak said. “From the meeting, we are now moving slowly forward one step at a time. The coming together of three villages today shows we are headed in a new direction.”
He added, “If we can bring this forward over the next few months, and include more villages into the routine, we can continue in this effort to clean the city on a more regular basis. In doing so, the city won’t need to hold an occasional deep clean or call for a large team to focus on one area.”
Mr Somsak suggested that more hotels and government agencies need to join the One Vision – One Direction – One Objective campaign. “We are all responsible for our house, and our house is Luang Prabang. We are all a part of this wonderful UNESCO world herniate city.”
All participants in the first One Vision – One Direction – One Objective cleaning project offered a special thanks to the Lao-German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the GIZ-EU Switch Asia Luang Prabang Handle with Care project for support in purchasing the cleaning equipment and banner showing the campaign’s unity.
