Environment Ministry considers quicker ban on 4 plastic products in Thailand

 

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is considering bringing forward, by 1-2 years, the imposition of a complete ban on the use of single-use plastic bags, Styrofoam boxes, plastic straws and single-use plastic cups.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa on Wednesday agreed to consider a proposal, from a network of environment protection groups, that the cabinet’s decision in April to phase out the four types of plastic products by the year 2022 was too slow and should be moved forward.

 

Mr. Parkpoom Witharntirawat, a leader of the network, said yesterday that plastic waste is now having a widespread impact on the environment and the situation will get worse if Thailand waits until 2022 to implement the ban.

 

He pointed out that existing voluntary measures to promote the reduction in use of plastic bags were too lenient, adding “We should move faster toward a plastic free society. Every modern store, shopping mall or other activity must stop using so much plastic,” he said.

 

Mr. Varawut said yesterday that the government has been cooperating with the private sector to try to reduce the amount of trash, including plastic waste, being washed into seas around Thailand by installing netting in the estuaries of several rivers to trap the trash.

 

While admitting that this does nothing to address to route of the problem, he said that it is a short-term measure which can help mitigate the problem of plastic waste getting into the oceans.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/environment-ministry-considers-quicker-ban-on-4-plastic-products-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-08-22

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Enforce this new law the same way they enforce the litter laws, with a few one day wars ,complete with photo opp and thumbs up..this street vendor plastic problem is here forever...sad to say

Edited August 22, 20196 yr by mok199

That sounds encouraging. I hope it happens much sooner rather than later.

... and while they're considering this, millions more bags, straws, etc. are generously being handed out daily. But, never mind, we need to think about what to do. 

If the Thai's didn't just drive along/ride along dropping their drink containers and food wraps....there wouldn't be a problem.

39 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

If the Thai's didn't just drive along/ride along dropping their drink containers and food wraps....there wouldn't be a problem.

That's not really true. Even if everyone threw their plastic rubbish into a bin, it still needs to be recycled/disposed of.

Paper, natural products or biodegradable material is needed.

In the sixties we did live without any plastic at all. The problem is, that the production of plastics is still permitted. The capitalistic system can react very fast to the need of cassava food containers, waste paper bags, bottles with a deposit and alternative packaging solutions. But as long there is no law in place, to ban the production, nothing will change, and plastic waste be thrown away everywhere. Stupidity rules.

Edited August 23, 20196 yr by fxe1200

38 minutes ago, fxe1200 said:

In the sixties we did live without any plastic at all. The problem is, that the production of plastics is still permitted. The capitalistic system can react very fast to the need of cassava food containers, waste paper bags, bottles with a deposit and alternative packaging solutions. But as long there is no law in place, to ban the production, nothing will change, and plastic waste be thrown away everywhere. Stupidity rules.

Not stupidity, but corporate greed rules. Plastic allows for longer shelf life and cheaper packaging and transportation. Pollution in the name of shareholders profits.

 

Instead of making consumers responsible of disposal, we have to make that the sellers responsibilty. 

12 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

If the Thai's didn't just drive along/ride along dropping their drink containers and food wraps....there wouldn't be a problem.

And the farangs at shopping centres wheeling their shopping trollies filled to the brim with goods all wrapped in plastic bags need to think about this.

I said before, if tv members all decided to eschew unnecessary plastic bags it would set a great example.

It is easy to take your own cloth bag (s) shopping.

 

It is a 'we' problem, not a 'they' problem.

13 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

If the Thai's didn't just drive along/ride along dropping their drink containers and food wraps....there wouldn't be a problem.

is  the  WINNER and its as  simple as  that!

47 minutes ago, fantom said:

if tv members all decided to eschew unnecessary plastic bags it would set a great example

it would do absolutely NOTHING

12 hours ago, bluesofa said:

biodegradable material

bio  plastic  is  s till no  good, recycle  is  better

All for it but please make a better version of the paper straws. The current ones stick to lips like superglue.

10 hours ago, bluesofa said:

That's not really true. Even if everyone threw their plastic rubbish into a bin, it still needs to be recycled/disposed of.

Paper, natural products or biodegradable material is needed.

Of course than they can to just drive along/ride along dropping their drink containers and food wraps out the on the roadside wherever they please. It's a win win. ????