Bangkok awarded Clean and Green Land

BANGKOK, Oct 13 (TNA) - Bangkok was awarded a "Clean and Green Land"
rating at last week's ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in
Hanoi, Vietnam, according to Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin.

Department of Environment director Irawat Pattamasukhon received the award
in Hanoi on Thursday on behalf of the Thai capital's city administration,
which was given recognition for its achievement in engaging with turning
around Bangkok's potentially serious environmental management, especially
of the Thai capital's green areas.

The award was given to Bangkok due to its outstanding environmental
accomplishment in garbage management.

The city administration was able to reduce the capital's rubbish volume by
10 per cent per year and succeeded in substantial recycling of garbage.

Around 300 acres of land have been converted to green areas, including
setting up 24 parks with an average of 3.29 square metres of green area
per person, higher than the established target of 3 square metres of green
area per person.

Mr. Apirak also invited Bangkokians to be a part of the "International
Ride to Work Day" activity, aimed to promote the capital's residents to
ride bicycles to work on Bangkok's main routes, starting October 15 from
Lumpini Park to office buildings on Sathorn Road. (TNA)