Ban Pae Kwang

Rating: 3/5 (8 votes)

Open Days: Daily (The waste market activity is held on the 5th of every month)

Opening Hours: Recommended 09.00–12.00 for the waste market activity

 

Ban Phae Kwang, Village No. 3, Nam Phrae Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province, is widely recognized as a “model community for waste management and haze reduction.” This reputation does not come from external projects, but from the community’s own initiative in addressing its environmental challenges. Ban Phae Kwang demonstrates that solving environmental problems does not require large budgets, but rather shared understanding, collective commitment, and continuity within the local community.

 

The heart of Ban Phae Kwang is its “Waste Market,” held at the village multipurpose pavilion on the 5th of every month. Villagers bring recyclable waste from their households, often together with their children and grandchildren, to be weighed and sold to community volunteers. This system is more than a recycling activity; it is a learning process rooted in families, helping children and youth understand that waste has value when it is properly sorted and managed.

 

The waste market originated from the “No-Burning Village” initiative. In the past, the community allowed burning during a limited time window from noon to 2 p.m. However, once the waste market was introduced, the community realized that burning was no longer necessary. Waste that had once been burned could instead be turned into tangible value. As a result, open burning gradually disappeared, leading to a clear reduction in haze and air pollution at the community level.

 

The Ban Phae Kwang waste market is driven not by profit, but by volunteer spirit. Community members help whenever they are available, without wages, because they believe that introducing paid labor would weaken the project. Income from waste sales and awards is used for community welfare, including education funds for youth, assistance for the elderly and underprivileged residents, and improvements to the village’s waste management system, such as purchasing a pickup truck for waste collection.

 

By involving young people from the very beginning, Ban Phae Kwang has ensured that this is not a short-term project, but a sustainable learning system passed down from generation to generation. Children grow up seeing environmental care not as an abstract concept, but as part of everyday life—something that can directly benefit their community.

 

Through its consistent approach, Ban Phae Kwang has received the Outstanding Environmental Village Award from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and has been recognized as a model community for waste management and haze reduction in Chiang Mai Province. Notably, this success has been achieved primarily through community-driven efforts, without heavy reliance on government-led projects.

 

From a tourism perspective, Ban Phae Kwang is well suited for experiential and learning-based travel. Visitors can observe the waste market in action, learn about community-based waste management systems, and adapt these ideas to their own areas. Visiting Ban Phae Kwang is therefore not just sightseeing, but a meaningful exchange of environmental knowledge.

 

Getting There Ban Phae Kwang is located in Nam Phrae Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province. It can be reached from Chiang Mai city by following the route toward Hang Dong, with a travel time of approximately 25–30 minutes. Using a navigation app is recommended, and visitors should inquire in advance about the waste market schedule.

 

 

A: It is held on the 5th of every month at the village multipurpose pavilion.

 

A: No. It is run entirely on a volunteer basis, with income used for community welfare and youth support.

 

A: They help with activities, learn about waste management, and carry the concept forward from one generation to the next.

 

A: Visitors can contact the community in advance to observe and learn about the waste management system.

 

A: It is ideal for experiential travel focused on community life, environmental learning, and sustainability.