Thailand's Saleng Trash Riders Get a Seat at the Junk Shop Table

Thailand's informal collectors, known as saleng after their three-wheeled carts, move much of the country's recyclable material but have little recognition. WWF Thailand's Plastic Smart Cities project in Surat Thani, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, supports 128 existing informal waste pickers and aims to add at least 40 new members to the Saleng Association. It builds the association's skills in safety, human rights, financial literacy and business operations, and requires partner junk shops to give benefits to members. On 16 October 2025 WWF, Surat Thani Municipality and four junk shops signed an MoU aimed at better welfare and recognition for registered pickers, and WWF is documenting the model for replication in other cities.