Pattaya unprepared for plastic-bag ban

 

PATTAYA:--In just a week time, major Thai retailers will stop handing out single-use plastic bags, but Pattaya residents seem unprepared for the change.

 

An informal survey by the Pattaya Mail found most people ignorant of the agreement announced Sept. 6 between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the country’s largest retail chains. And other than in convenience stores, there is little awareness of the government’s campaign to cut plastic use.

 

Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said in September that the ministry asked Thai retailers to give up single-use plastic Jan. 1. Among those agreeing are the Central Group, The Mall Group, 7-Eleven operator CP All , Siam Makro, Robinsons, Bangchak Retail, Big C Supercenter, Index Living Mall and gas station operator PTT, as well as trade associations like the Plastic Industry Club and Thai Retailers Association.

 

See more: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-unprepared-for-plastic-bag-ban-277128

-- PATTAYA MAIL 2019-12-26--

Not only Pattaya unprepared, hearing about the stoppage of giving plastic bags, i goT myself a large bag.

Just fits in the basket on my scooter, just been to big C,got to the checkout, security bloke who always helps me, put my basket on the belt.

I gave him my large bag, saying please fill it put it in my basket.

Brain dead girl cashier insisted in putting my groceries in plastic bags, then past them to the security guy, who then put them in my Big bag...... DOH.

I'm ready, got a few cloth bags, just have to get the brain used to taking them with me to the shops. I am a bit concerned for the locals, who may die of starvation without plastic bags. 

Thailand is late to this global movement.  Examples from many other countries exist. In my original country, plastic bags disappeared ages ago and recycling and composting started in the 1980's.  It's not that hard to do.

Both Tesco and 7/11 have had cloth bags for sale on their counters for past few weeks, only 15 baht also, at least they are doing their bit, if somchai hasn't taken notice he will have to fork out for one soon

This will have massive implications. I see mass street protests with the real possibiity that the government could be forced out of office.

1 minute ago, champers said:

This will have massive implications. I see mass street protests with the real possibiity that the government could be forced out of office.

Hahahahahaha, yep when they did the bag ban in Aus last year there was massive public butthurt and outrage too !!

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

Not only Pattaya unprepared, hearing about the stoppage of giving plastic bags, i goT myself a large bag.

Just fits in the basket on my scooter, just been to big C,got to the checkout, security bloke who always helps me, put my basket on the belt.

I gave him my large bag, saying please fill it put it in my basket.

Brain dead girl cashier insisted in putting my groceries in plastic bags, then past them to the security guy, who then put them in my Big bag...... DOH.

That's interesting. Big C in Udon Thani haven't been giving out plastic bags at the cashier for over a month now.

Afer scanning, all the goods go back into shopping trolley unbagged, then I push the trolley to the car park and put everything loose in the car boot.

 

We have some large plastic storage boxes about 2 feet square (and the same deep). I suppose it would be a good idea to put one in the boot, just to keep the shopping together.

 

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Both Tesco and 7/11 have had cloth bags for sale on their counters for past few weeks, only 15 baht also, at least they are doing their bit, if somchai hasn't taken notice he will have to fork out for one soon

And Big C Pattaya Klang have reusable bags at an eye watering 29 Baht

The price is Ok for me, but the average Thai will not pay this price.

 not sure about pattaya, but i'm ready.

4 hours ago, Rimmer said:

Pattaya residents seem unprepared for the change.

Think they can find some.

I can already see some clueless falangs in Pattaya making a big stink and fools out of them self's in places like Friendship supermarket about why there are no plastic bags, mostly Russians and Chinese who cant read or speak English.

1 hour ago, nightfox said:

I can already see some clueless falangs in Pattaya making a big stink and fools out of them self's in places like Friendship supermarket about why there are no plastic bags, mostly Russians and Chinese who cant read or speak English.

I voiced my disagreement with the coming soon no "free bags" at Friendship..."how will customers get their shopping home without bags"  answer smile and hee hee ????

45 minutes ago, johng said:

I voiced my disagreement with the coming soon no "free bags" at Friendship..."how will customers get their shopping home without bags"  answer smile and hee hee ????

The same way that they got their shopping home before plastic bags were invented. I always carry 3 or 4 cloth bags in my pickup and I have done for years. I did the same in Germany, France, Sri Lanka and a few other countries.

8 minutes ago, billd766 said:

The same way that they got their shopping home before plastic bags were invented. I always carry 3 or 4 cloth bags in my pickup and I have done for years. I did the same in Germany, France, Sri Lanka and a few other countries.

Why not go further back to before cars were invented? Walk to the shops. That’s one way to save the environment. 

20 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Why not go further back to before cars were invented? Walk to the shops. That’s one way to save the environment. 

Walk?

Remember were are we - are all the shops less than fifty metres away?

1 hour ago, Gweiloman said:

Why not go further back to before cars were invented? Walk to the shops. That’s one way to save the environment. 

Why not go further back to when all the villages had local shops? That would mean no electricity, fridges, freezers and air conditioning.

 

You city folks would die off without a/c.

2 hours ago, johng said:

I voiced my disagreement with the coming soon no "free bags" at Friendship..."how will customers get their shopping home without bags"  answer smile and hee hee ????

You have one week to sit and think about it and ways to solve that problem .

  You are at the till

Shopping paid for .

No plastic bags .

How will you manAge to take all your shopping home ?

One week to think about it 

Whenever have anybody been prepared for anything in Pattaya? So, everything is like always. Hush on, nothing to see here.

9 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Walk?

Remember were are we - are all the shops less than fifty metres away?

I would be scared of the damned packs of dogs en-route to the 7-11 and the market. 

12 hours ago, nightfox said:

I can already see some clueless falangs in Pattaya making a big stink and fools out of them self's in places like Friendship supermarket about why there are no plastic bags, mostly Russians and Chinese who cant read or speak English.

I did that already.

 

Went to tops on the motocy, put a lot in my basket, went to pay and they cashier said: Solly today no plastic bags.

 

I had 25 items and told him without a bag i can't buy it...so i gave him the basket and left.

Just now, fruitman said:

I did that already.

 

Went to tops on the motocy, put a lot in my basket, went to pay and they cashier said: Solly today no plastic bags.

 

I had 25 items and told him without a bag i can't buy it...so i gave him the basket and left.

What did you do when you got home with no grocery's ?

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

What did you do when you got home with no grocery's ?

On my home home i stopped at the market, bought the same vegy and stuff there for half price (from royal project) and also got bags with it...

 

And now i boycot that Tops forever, they even tried to sell me green beans and called them haricot verts for 35 baht a tiny bag...i told the lady they are not haricot vert beans but she didn't agree with me.

46 minutes ago, fruitman said:

I had 25 items and told him without a bag i can't buy it...so i gave him the basket and left.

You would think they would have the sense to at least sell reusable bags handily at check-out. 

Hope you didn't have anything freshly sliced from the Deli!

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You would think they would have the sense to at least sell reusable bags handily at check-out. 

Hope you didn't have anything freshly sliced from the Deli!

Yes they even didn't sell plastic bags or anything in Tops...and that whole no bag thing is starting 1 januari....

 

Yes i had a salad from saladbar for 150 baht and that was in the basket as well....good! That's their punishment for being so foolish.

 

I also don't understand why i had to drive around the building, go down in the parking garage totally at the back to park my motocy while i could have parked next to the road 1 meter from the door...much more convenient for fast shoppers with western mindset.

 

Yesterday we were in a big Tops, they had one cashier lane called GREEN LANE which had NO BAGS.....

4 minutes ago, fruitman said:

I also don't understand why i had to drive around the building, go down in the parking garage totally at the back to park my motocy while i could have parked next to the road 1 meter from the door...much more convenient for fast shoppers with western mindset.

Maybe they didnt want everyone parking their bikes next to the front door ?

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

Maybe they didnt want everyone parking their bikes next to the front door ?

Yes and they also can't/won't reserve 1-2 parking lots for cars for motobike customers...

 

In BKK only low-so folks drive motobikes and they won't shop in supermarkets....and the odd farang of course.

 

One day at foodland the guard told me to not park the motocy close to the entrance, only cars can do that..i had to park far far away in the motocy parking for staff...

 

I emailed the manager and she told me i could park right in front of the stairs at the door which i do now...she had told the guards to let me do so...that's how it works in thailand, you have to mail the manager and tell them you spend a lot of money in their shop (which i do)...i can't go to foodland by car, that takes me 2hours single way, on the motocy 20 minutes.

1 minute ago, fruitman said:

Yes and they also can't/won't reserve 1-2 parking lots for cars for motobike customers...

 

In BKK only low-so folks drive motobikes and they won't shop in supermarkets....and the odd farang of course.

 

One day at foodland the guard told me to not park the motocy close to the entrance, only cars can do that..i had to park far far away in the motocy parking for staff...

 

I emailed the manager and she told me i could park right in front of the stairs at the door which i do now...she had told the guards to let me do so...that's how it works in thailand, you have to mail the manager and tell them you spend a lot of money in their shop (which i do)...i can't go to foodland by car, that takes me 2hours single way, on the motocy 20 minutes.

I am sure that the staff at Tops will miss you when you boycott the shop because of no plastic bags

I'm curious how the big brand stores' produce and meat sections will handle the ban. 

11 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

Why not go further back to before cars were invented? Walk to the shops. That’s one way to save the environment. 

Or go out with a big club foraging and hunting for fresh meat!