EXCLUSIVE: Dump the habit of plastics

[rooster59]

EXCLUSIVE: Dump the habit of plastics

By NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN 
THE NATION WEEKEND

 

Plastic floats along with marine animals in the seas and lands ashore. Photos courtesy of WWF.

 

WWF CALLS FOR |END TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC, WHICH HARMS NOT ONLY THE ENVIRONMENT BUT HUMAN WELLBEING TOO

 

WWF INTERNATIONAL is calling on Southeast Asia and other regions to tackle the menace of plastic waste, with its director-general outlining a multi-pronged approach and sustainable solutions.The world produces and consumes more than 300 million tonnes of plastic products every year, and Thailand’s rate of plastic consumption is in double digits. 

 

 

Marco Lambertini said the problem of plastic waste has spun out of control because of the unprecedented growth in populations and the middle class, especially in Asia – in China, India and Southeast Asia.

 

About half of all plastic items are discarded after being used just once. Less than 15 per cent of plastic is recycled. As a result, plastic waste has become an enormous threat to the environment, with about eight million pieces of micro-plastic and other forms making their way into the oceans annually.

 

This garbage is posing a serious threat to marine life and in turn to human health due to the micro and nano-plastic that ends up in seafood. 

 

In addition, the economic cost of plastic waste is growing rapidly thanks to sewage and drainage blockages, and is causing ecological damage at tourist attractions such as beaches.

 

The underlying issue is people using too much plastic and discarding it too carelessly. It is convenient and cheap and disposability is built in. 

 

According to Lambertini, the best way to tackle this problem would be to impose taxes – primarily on manufacturers so as not to burden consumers.

 

He said reducing the overall consumption of plastic is one of the three priorities, with a focus on unnecessary packaging. 

 

Large retailers can play a key role in changing consumer behaviour, he said, as in the recent campaign at 7-Eleven convenience stores, which managed to convince shoppers to forego plastic bags and thus far has kept 100 million bags out of circulation. 

 

Second, Lambertini said, plastic-waste management must be improved, with penalties imposed on single-use plastic products that are not recyclable, such as shopping bags and straws. As for recyclable plastic items, the government will have to introduce effective collection and disposal methods while promoting biodegradable plastics as an alternative.

 

WWF International has been working with 80 countries to help them tackle the problem of plastic waste on land and in the seas. 

 

It is also working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and other organisations to propose an international “plastics treaty” to help governments deal with the issue.

 

The treaty would prompt governments to devise policies that, through tax breaks and other incentives, support research and development in biodegradable alternatives. 

 

Lambertini believes governments should join forces to tackle the problem at the source or “upstream” – such as in the oil and gas industry, which supplies the petrochemicals used in making plastic. The chief aim in cooperation should be setting targets to reduce plastic production and consumption, he said.

 

This could take the same approach applied to promote renewable energy, prodding the private sector to develop plastics that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

 

The retail sector at the midstream level would have to be given a level playing field, Lambertini said. All major retail chains would be encouraged to reach a common agreement to replace single-use plastic bags with reusable bags.

 

He noted that micro-plastics are present in textiles and garments, toothpaste, facial creams and cosmetics.

 

Washing-machine manufactures should consider building micro-plastic trappers into their appliances to keep tiny pieces of plastic out of sewage and drainage systems, rivers and seas.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30365448

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-09

[mok199]

Come down to ground zero ,and see the real plasitcs mentality.Goodluck with your wishfull thinking,plans to educate and your one day blitzes ....The truth is Thais are to lazy to care ,until someone spoonfeeds them from the metal pot to their open mouths ,everything in between is plastic and foam....period

Edited March 9, 2019 by mok199

[RotBenz8888]

Removing plastic will upset the whole Thai ecosystem, who knows what consequenses it'll cause.

[mikebell]

Agree with Mok.  The Thai Education system does not allow for thinking; thus the average Thai has no concept of the global impact plastic is having on all life forms.  Their mentality is me first and to hell with the rest of you.

[Emdog]

This shouldn't be "exclusive". It should be universally covered

[neeray]

Dealing with plastic waste will take leadership and responsibility. Most leaders will not seriously tackle the problem as all they really care about is 'here and now'. "Live for today, screw tomorrow".

The same goes for retailers and manufacturers of products.

[fxe1200]

"... As a result, plastic waste has become an enormous threat to the environment, with about eight million pieces of micro-plastic and other forms making their way into the oceans annually." It should read "tons" not pieces.

[SweetStickyRice]

I literally just bought myself an Oishi tea from 7/11. I got 4 straws, and a tiny plastic bag.

[wayned]

3 minutes ago, SweetStickyRice said:

I literally just bought myself an Oishi tea from 7/11. I got 4 straws, and a tiny plastic bag.

I'm surprised that they didn't "double bag" it and throw in a plastic spoon!

[connda]

The government needs to ban single-use plastic and Bob's your uncle.  However, the Oil Industry/Petro-Chemical Industry who make the plastics, the retailers who use it due to low cost, and consumers who have been habituated to using plastic - they'll all scream and cry - just a a opioid addict in withdrawal. 
Large environmental problems require drastic governmental actions.  The problem will never go away by itself. 

[action]

Having a huge jelly fish in the photo as an example actually gave me the opposite reaction intended in the article. 

[AhFarangJa]

Unfortunately it is all about big business, year on year profits, and shareholders dividends.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Lambertini believes governments should join forces to tackle the problem at the source or “upstream” – such as in the oil and gas industry, which supplies the petrochemicals used in making plastic

The oil industry does not want to stop supplying the raw materials, and the Governments want to keep on collecting the taxes on the huge profits.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The treaty would prompt governments to devise policies that, through tax breaks and other incentives, support research and development in biodegradable alternatives. 

There are already lots of environmentally friendly alternatives, unfortunately big business has a grip on them and will keep them locked away until the oil runs out.

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

According to Lambertini, the best way to tackle this problem would be to impose taxes – primarily on manufacturers so as not to burden consumers.

Where exactly does he think the higher taxes would end up, at the checkout where the consumer pays, certainly not in the board of directors bank balances.

We have the technologies now, today, this minute, to replace all oil and carbon based materials. just look back over the decades and see how people who found alternative fuels etc have been silenced, or "Bought off" by Multi nationals, and you can see how big business combined with big Governments are manipulating the manufacture and distribution of these plastics as an easy way to big monies. Unfortunately, all these product manufacturers are owned by a small handful of companies.

Sadly, I cannot see things changing in my lifetime, though I will do what little I can. I am slowly educating my Wife and Son, but it is an uphill battle of convenience versus responsibility.

[KKr]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

EXCLUSIVE: Dump the habit of plastics

cannot figure it out,  strange call for change, or is this part of an English test for Thai students ?

everybody is dumping the plastic as a habit already,
so what is so spectacular and exclusive about this. 

 

[DrTuner]

1 hour ago, wayned said:

I'm surprised that they didn't "double bag" it and throw in a plastic spoon!

You know the effect when you point a camera connected to a tv at the tv itself, it seems to go on into infinity? I'm betting some day a 7-11 clerk will get stuck in that loop and start putting plastic bags in plastic bags. It will be the end of the world as the braindead will create a plastic ball larger than Earth.

[Henricus]

1 hour ago, SweetStickyRice said:

I literally just bought myself an Oishi tea from 7/11. I got 4 straws, and a tiny plastic bag.

When i go to 7-11 i tell them no straws and no bag just tell them it`s so easy

[RickTik]

Go hemp, baby...

Why are people around the world tolerating hemp/cannabis persecution? Unite and demand that this sacred plant be used for all the beautiful things it can do. Get this to Prayut...

Edited March 9, 2019 by RickTik
Added a word

[dcnx]

You can’t teach those who are selfish and brain dead.

[digger70]

Education ,no one give a Fritz . If they want to make an impact on the people Give them Rubbish bins for a start Fine the Lazy sods if they trow /drop their plastic. as a Final get the government of their lazy Butts to use Taxpayers money to make machines that can clean the Canals/ rivers/ Beach,ocean waters .Than collect the plastic and Nuke it to Kingdom come.

[zydeco]

Most of the world economy is tied to plastic for volume, ease, speed of use. How many people worrying about plastic bags are going to buy laundry soap, cleansers, soft drinks, milk, and virtually every other packaged commodity in glass bottles? How many are going to be willing to sit at a drive-thru fast food window and get their orders with ceramic dishware and real silverware, which the owners will need to repurchase and then hire extra cleaners to wash? Go to the produce aisle in grocery stores and what do you bag your produce to be weighed in? Thinner plastic bags.  Buy nuts, fish, meat, or poultry? Comes in styrofoam and plastic. Garden centers even package their dirt in plastic bags. Go back to bottles, crates, and boxes like the 1940s??? Ain't gonna happen.

Edited March 9, 2019 by zydeco

[Ulic]

It's not the plastics that are the big problem but the littering and disposal. Charge the real cost of collection and disposal at manufacturing, so plastic garbage is valuable and it all gets recycled. Personally, I am in favor of banning single-use plastic bags and bottles but if those same bags and bottles were made more valuable to collect and recycle and collection depots that would keep them out of our oceans and that may be another way of dealing with the problem.

[Grandpa Cool]

2 hours ago, connda said:

The government needs to ban single-use plastic and Bob's your uncle.  However, the Oil Industry/Petro-Chemical Industry who make the plastics, the retailers who use it due to low cost, and consumers who have been habituated to using plastic - they'll all scream and cry - just a a opioid addict in withdrawal. 
Large environmental problems require drastic governmental actions.  The problem will never go away by itself. 

You have touched on the real issue in your post.

Plastics have been dumped on the world by the petro-chemical industry. For those who are unaware, plastic is a byproduct of the production of petrol.

Plastic bags were non existent until 30 to 40 years ago. Asia was very clean insofar as plastic pollution was concerned. The norm was banana leaves, lotus leaves, etc. for wrappers and containers. All biodegradable.

Some of the respondents are blaming the Thais.

Take a step back and re-evaluate your stance and opinions. The suppliers of these plastic pollutants have NEVER EDUCATED THE MARKETPLACE OR CONSUMER. All they have done is encourage the use of plastics as a desirable form of packaging.

Australian supermatkets are a good example. Woolworths have discontinued single use bags but continue,  more than ever, to pre package fruit and vegetables in clear plastic containers....and by doing so they charge a premium.

Not so long ago there was an Australia-wide campaign - "Do the right thing "- to try and stop the nationwide habit of throwing rubbish out of car windows with a $300 fine for littering. 

I don't think that it's done much good. Outside of the cities the roadsides are still littered.

If I may, I would be so bold as to say that the solution starts with us as individuals. Just say NO when you are offered plastic crap with your purchases. You could try carrying your own compact cotton carry bag.

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, mok199 said:

Come down to ground zero ,and see the real plasitcs mentality.Goodluck with your wishfull thinking,plans to educate and your one day blitzes ....The truth is Thais are to lazy to care ,until someone spoonfeeds them from the metal pot to their open mouths ,everything in between is plastic and foam....period

Actually that should be fed from the "Styrofoam containers using a plastic spoon"

Street food containers and over-wrapped food in supermarkets are just the tip of a very large waste dump !

[TGIR]

What a stupid subject......let's try something that makes more sense.

 

Stop making the stuff and selling it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dimple]

Plastic is not a habit it’s a business. 

[ThaiFelix]

Tax single use plastics heavily so manufacturers/retailers etc have to find an alternative or go out of business.  Thailand should use this tax to provide rubbish bins and bin collections in the streets.  Seems impossible to find a litter bin except outside 7/11's.  Behead anybody caught littering.

[silver sea]

Mother Nature has the answer. It’s mushrooms!

 

http://yupthatexists.com/pestalotiopsis-microspora-plastic-eating-mushroom/?fbclid=IwAR1uvnGSR4r7yipP_0Zp7fpiKk1KcG4NGdN0cApwgSrWUWOA_jZLszU-8lo

Edited March 9, 2019 by silver sea

[natway09]

It is not so much about the plastic but teaching people to dispose of correctly is a huge 

education program that I doubt in Thailand will be successful.

They just do not care enough to think

[khunPer]

The problem is not plastic bags, the problem is (some of) the users of plastic bags.

[donim]

8 hours ago, connda said:

The government needs to ban single-use plastic and Bob's your uncle.  However, the Oil Industry/Petro-Chemical Industry who make the plastics, the retailers who use it due to low cost, and consumers who have been habituated to using plastic - they'll all scream and cry - just a a opioid addict in withdrawal. 
Large environmental problems require drastic governmental actions.  The problem will never go away by itself. 

 

8 hours ago, action said:

Having a huge jelly fish in the photo as an example actually gave me the opposite reaction intended in the article. 

It gaves me a 'opposite' thought and found a suspect...

[rickudon]

8 hours ago, ThaiFelix said:

  Behead anybody caught littering.

Heads are litter too! But i like your style ...