Bangkok: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has reported a significant decrease in the number of krathongs collected during the Loi Krathong Festival 2025, with a total of 391,027 krathongs collected, marking a 24% reduction from the previous year.
According to Thai News Agency, this change is attributed to a growing preference for natural materials, which made up 82.76% of the floats, compared to foam and bread krathongs that constituted 7.23% and 10.01% respectively.
Mr. Ekwaranyu Amrapal, spokesperson for the BMA, stated that the collection took place at 110 locations throughout Bangkok, commencing at 8:00 PM on November 5th and concluding by 5:00 AM on November 6th, 2025. The statistics reveal a continuous decline in krathong numbers over the past three years, with 514,590 collected in 2024 and 639,828 in 2023. The online celebration of Loi Krathong also saw a drop in participation, with 23,347 people joining virtually compared to 36,832 in 2024.
The BMA has implemented a comprehensive operational plan to manage waste and prevent pollution in water sources. District offices are responsible for collecting data at event venues, while the Drainage Office and Environmental Office manage collections in canals, reservoirs, parks, and the Chao Phraya River. For the river section between Rama VIII and Rama IX Bridges, 163 personnel, 28 garbage boats, 6 support boats, and 8 trucks were deployed for waste collection.
Collected krathongs are sorted at designated locations, with natural materials processed into organic fertilizer and foam krathongs disposed of properly. The BMA is also promoting the use of natural krathongs to mitigate the environmental impact on aquatic systems, discouraging the use of bread and foam which can harm aquatic life.
In collaboration with government and private sectors, Bangkok will host various activities for the festival at locations such as Rama 8 Bridge and Wat Samian Nari, with 33 public parks and 110 floating locations available to the public. The BMA emphasizes the theme “Loy Krathong, Save the World, Float Together, One Family, One Krathong” to encourage environmental responsibility and sustainability.