San Kamphaeng Residents Launch Brilliant Initiative with 'Leaf-for-Egg Market' to Combat Burning and PM2.5 Dust
San Kamphaeng residents exchange dried leaves for fresh eggs in a weekly market designed to reduce burning and PM2.5 dust pollution in Chiang Mai Province. The program, running through May 2025, converts collected leaves into compost while
Haze and PM2.5 dust in Northern Thailand remain a major challenge affecting both public health and tourism. Addressing this issue requires serious and sustained cooperation from all sectors.
One innovative and well-received initiative is the 'Leaf-for-Egg Market' in San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai Province, which successfully integrates environmental conservation with community lifestyle.
This simple idea, developed through collaboration between San Kamphaeng District and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), which operates chicken farms in the area, invites residents to exchange dried leaves for fresh eggs, helping reduce burning and PM2.5 dust. The dried leaves are converted into compost distributed to the community, while also helping reduce household expenses.
The 'Leaf-for-Egg Market' creates community participation among San Kamphaeng residents, held every Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the San Kamphaeng District Office from March 4 to May 27, 2025, under the slogan 'San Kamphaeng doesn't burn; bring dried leaves to exchange for eggs; smoke and forest fires stay far away; everyone breathes easy.'
Already in its tenth week, the activity remains vibrant. Residents queue from morning with dried leaves collected from homes and gardens to exchange for eggs at a rate of 2 kilograms per egg. Daily exchanges are limited to 20 kilograms (10 eggs) per person.
During the event, Siva Thamikanan, Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Province, and Kanesh Kamnan, San Kamphaeng District Officer, launched the market and conducted leaf-processing activities to add value, including producing leaf plates and compost from leaf waste. The District Agricultural Office handles production before distributing to residents for agricultural use, reducing costs and improving soil health long-term.
San Kamphaeng residents report the initiative delivers 'more than expected'—reducing burning in the community while cutting household expenses on eggs for cooking. Many hope the program continues.
What were once dried leaves awaiting burning have become a small but powerful community force, reducing PM2.5 and air pollution while demonstrating that small behavioral changes can create genuine positive environmental impact.
