An entrepreneurial grandfather makes environment-friendly brooms from recycled plastic trash - even providing jobs for his neighbours.

Boonsee Srikul, 67, said he was looking for a hobby after retirement and volunteered at their local recycling waste bank project in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

The retiree added he was inspired after learning all about the proper handling of garbage and self-studied how to make brooms using plastic bottles and other recyclables.

Footage shows Boonsee and his neighbours holding the brooms they made. They showed the process of turning each bottle into strands and cutting and pressing the strips together to become a cleaning tool.

Boonsee said: ‘I used to work as an electrician but after retiring I had to find other things to do. I assisted in our recycling project and learned many things.

‘I aimed to generate income out of plastic waste, particularly plastic bottles because we had so many.'

The pensioner added that during the pandemic, he had so much free time, which he dedicated to studying and experimenting with making plastic booms.

He said: ‘The procedure starts with gathering the plastic bottles, cutting their bottoms and cleaning.

‘We slice them into strips and tight wound the strips before boiling. We trim and wove them into a pattern before it could be tied into the handle.'

Boonsee said he sold his first brooms for 60 baht (1.29 GBP) each but as his product became better, many customers were asking for it including schools, temples, and government offices.

He said: ‘Sooner I had to ask my neighbours to help me as the demand grew.'

The pensioner now has 18 members in his team making brooms, which they sell in-store and online for 100 baht (2.15 GBP) each.