This Buddhist Temple in Bangkok crushes plastic bottles and gives out blessings

There is something unique happening at Bangkok’s Wat Chak Daeng Temple; something that is also helping the environment. This Buddhist temple is not only a place for you to offer prayers at but also where plastic bottles get crushed down. Yes, it is hard to believe, so find out for yourself!
Here, you can bring plastic bottles and machines installed at the temple will take care of them by pressing down on them. They will, eventually, be recycled into polyester fibres. That fibre would then make the robes for monks. Such a novel idea, and the best part is that you can contribute by simply submitting some plastic bottles at the temple.


Thailand is one of the five countries responsible for contributing to half of the plastic in the world’s oceans, and such novel ideas definitely help the country contribute to a better environment. The programme specifically aims to help the Chao Phraya river. But there is more to the story than this, as devotees, who come here to submit plastic bottles, get blessings of Phra Maha Pranom in exchange.
As per reports, the monks have crushed almost 40 tonnes of plastic up until now. The programme started two years ago. The monks believe that practising Buddha’s teachings also includes solving global environmental crises. A kg of plastic bottles can make a full set of robes for the monks, and with 40 tonnes of plastic, the temple has produced almost 800 robes till date.

So, the next time you are in Thailand, head to the Wat Chak Daeng temple and donate plastic bottles. You can get a blessing and can also help save the environment at the same time.