Thailand to declare war on plastic bags - by charging for them

[rooster59]

Thailand to declare war on plastic bags - by charging for them

 

 

A conference has heard that it is time for the Thais to declare war on plastic bags that are one of the reasons there is so much trash in the kingdom.

 

And one of the ways to do this is to charge money for each bag.

 

The conference organised by NIDA, Thammasat University and environmental groups, met under the banner: "Plastic bags. We use them so who must pay?"

 

The answer to that was resoundingly the Thai people. 

 

The conference used as its basis survey results that said more than 50% of Thais agree that the best way to lower the amount of bags used is to make consumers pay for them.

 

Experiences in foreign countries that have had success with this method were brought up for discussion.

 

Representatives from the plastics industry said it was not their fault per se but the fault of the people and where they throw them after use.

 

Some suggested that it was important that there were better standards of bags - if they break people would not want to pay for them. There should be standards in place to ensure quality.

 

And most were in agreement that the government needs to act with firm leadership in the matter. 

Source: Channel 3

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-12-17

[darksidedog]

I totally agree. Thais tend to put anything in a plastic bag, even when it really isn't needed. Maybe when it is costing them money, they will think twice before throwing them away in the streets or waterways.

[Samui Bodoh]

It is about bloody time that this idea gets discussed and (hopefully!) implemented in Thailand; the sheer number of plastic bags in this country is both shocking and disgusting.

 

I am a figure of awe when I go to my local market, buy my stuff, then whip a used plastic bag out of my pocket for my purchase.

 

"GASP!" "Look at that!" "Wah!" "I didn't know you could do that!" "Double Wah!"

 

Make it five baht a bag, and watch the use of plastic bags plummet. Please.

 

[djayz]

Finally!!!!! Most sensible thing I've read in a long time! Charge ฿10 or ฿15 a bag. That'll make a lot of people think twice before take a bag.

But, I vaguely remember them wanting to charge for bags years ago and the proposal was dropped because some n*bj*b thought that charging for plastic bags would "not be good for tourism because tourists wouldn't want to pay for the bags". ?

[wayned]

They should be like Macro and not provide any bags at all.  If you want a bag you have to either bring one or buy one.  Macro sells them at the checkout stand but they are still plastic.  They should sell reusable cloth bags rather than plastic and charge more for them.  Of course the plastic bags or biodegradable reclaimed waxed paper will still be needed for meat, fish and other perishables.  I have three of them and keep them in the backseat of the truck.  The "kids" in 7-11 are amazed when I show up with my own bag and refuse their bags of plastic within more plastic!

[colinneil]

Long overdue, plastic bag use is getting seriously out of hand.

Last week i was in Global house buying blue pipe fittings.

I had 4 different types (only 16 pieces) everyone could fit in my hand, girl put them in 4 different bags, then put the 4 bags in another bag, bloody crazy. 1 bag was enough.

[anon537687643]

I’m always taking items out of plastic bags at checkouts ! Why the hell the staff aren’t trained to ask customers if they want a bag ? But Silly question in LOS


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[mikebell]

Can Thailand be moving into the 20th Century?  They'll be calling for dogs to be on a lead next!

[Crossy]

Plus many, many on the above and the government initiative, if it ever gets off the ground.

 

We do most of our shopping in Makro, esky and a big plastic box in the back of the pickup. Apart from the produce, fish and meat not a bag in sight.

 

We occasionally go to Tesco in order to stock up on - plastic bags, which madam uses instead of paying for small bin liners.

[OJAS]

Definitely agree with this in principle, but Big C and Tesco Lotus need IMHO to get rid of the bloody miserable "security" jobsworths standing at their entrances who insist that you deposit the empty bags or rucksacks in which you might be planning to carry your purchases at the left luggage counter!

Edited December 17, 2017 by OJAS

[George Bowman]

This is a Mom & Pop shop down the road from me. It recently underwent a winter cleaning and is still fairly clean. Only in the last year have I convinced the owner, that a plastic bag is not necessary for a M-150 and a pack of smokes. She was asked why not save money and not give out tons of plastic bags. It is ok, they are cheap was her reasoning...

[Briggsy]

Why weren't these environmental groups arrested for subversion?

[quadperfect]

How about just putting a few trash cans around thailand. There are so few available.

That is obviouse.

The thai people get there food off the street in plastic. So good luck with that, you thought they complained about pick ups for transport and helmet laws. Just try to charge a thai each time he buys food.

 

[tonray]

5 baht per bag for Thais, 10 baht for Farang ?

[Xonax]

Let them charge a small amount for plastic bags, but at the same time Thailand need to get a proper recycling system in place.  Garbage Recycling plants is long overdue in Thailand, while they are investing in submarines and high-speed trains.

It is just a myth, that cotton / canvas bags are better for the environment than plastic bags.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/09/to-tote-or-note-to-tote/498557/

http://www.businessinsider.com/reusable-tote-bags-are-worse-than-plastic-2016-11

[coulson]

They've finally caught on....

[samsensam]

 

this worked very well back home, plastic bag usage reduced, i think, by 80% very quickly and remained at this level, it's a win win if implemented and managed effectively;

 

- reduction  in trash

- protection of the environment

- the money raised given to charitable causes - a benefit which helps sell the concept to the public

- increased awareness within the population of behaving in an environmentally friendly way

 

now, unfortunately, the issue here is effective implementation and management, i have my fingers crossed but am not holding my breath.

[Coconutman]

I was given a plastic bag for my plastic bag

[lucifer666]

Strangely, I read a similar news article the last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that ETC... Nothing ever happens until next year when i'll be reading the same old crock. All talk and no action.

[Silurian]

1 hour ago, wayned said:

They should be like Macro and not provide any bags at all.  If you want a bag you have to either bring one or buy one.  

 

When I tried to bring my own bags into Macro they would not let me bring them into the store. Macro is very strict on what you can bring into the store. This defeats the purpose of bringing your own bags. I just leave the bags in my vehicle and then transfer them from the store cart into the bags in the parking lot.

 

At least Lotus allows me to bring my cloth bags into the store so I can use them at the checkout. Though the cashier will almost always start putting items in the plastic bag automatically before I can even get my cloth bag into the bagging area. Can't really blame them as they are just trying to be efficient. If you have a Lotus Club Card they actually give you bonus club points for bringing in your own bag.

 

[ezzra]

They can't even control all those millions of mom and pop sidewalk

and open air sellers and they want to control the use of plastic bags?

yeah right.. good luck with that....

[jaywalker]

Glad to see the hair brained gov't actually say something that isn't straight off a Monty Python skit for once!

 

Start charging 20 baht each for straws at 7/11 too!

[Briggsy]

2 minutes ago, jaywalker said:

Glad to see the hair brained gov't actually say something that isn't straight off a Monty Python skit for once!

 

Start charging 20 baht each for straws at 7/11 too!

Read again, grasshopper. (Hint: This is not a government announcement)

[jaywalker]

2 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Read again, grasshopper. (Hint: This is not a government announcement)

So solly Masta Po. I just skimmed the article and was going by the headline.

 

"Thailand to declare war on plastic bags - by charging for them"

I should have known it made too much sense for it to be something the gov't would come up with. Silly me...

[r136dg]

Agree with most everything said.

They could also make it worthwhile for recyclers to pick up. 

Always get a funny look when I say mai ow tung

[OJAS]

38 minutes ago, Silurian said:

When I tried to bring my own bags into Macro they would not let me bring them into the store. Macro is very strict on what you can bring into the store. This defeats the purpose of bringing your own bags. I just leave the bags in my vehicle and then transfer them from the store cart into the bags in the parking lot.

So those bloody miserable "security" jobsworths are not confined to Big C and Tesco Lotus then. What's the betting on the likelihood that, if you only used a hand-held basket to place your purchases in as you wandered round the store, they would be equally happy about you using this to carry them to your car after payment? A classic case of TIT IMHO!

Edited December 17, 2017 by OJAS

[jaywalker]

3 minutes ago, r136dg said:

Agree with most everything said.

They could also make it worthwhile for recyclers to pick up. 

Always get a funny look when I say mai ow tung

Yeah they look at me like I have carrots growing out of my ears when I turn down a straw to go with my beer also.

[alex8912]

1 hour ago, Xonax said:

Let them charge a small amount for plastic bags, but at the same time Thailand need to get a proper recycling system in place.  Garbage Recycling plants is long overdue in Thailand, while they are investing in submarines and high-speed trains.

It is just a myth, that cotton / canvas bags are better for the environment than plastic bags.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/09/to-tote-or-note-to-tote/498557/

http://www.businessinsider.com/reusable-tote-bags-are-worse-than-plastic-2016-11

They have garbage recycling plants here. I even toured a rather impressive one in Mae Sot in October. Most of the plastic/ garbage is turned into small blocks for fuel. 

[DM07]

I will believe it, when I see it!

...which means, I don't believe it!

[connda]

Not really.  Charging for plastic bags is simply another government revenue generation scheme.  Like shaking down helmetless motorcycle riders, it will create a nice revenue stream, but will accomplish nothing.

Edited December 17, 2017 by connda