Pattaya unprepared for plastic-bag ban

[neeray]

2 hours ago, 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.

But you are a ThaiVisa member and by the look of your post count at 5,716, a regular reader on a forum where this has been discussed many times. That said, you knew this day was coming.

How could you not be prepared? By leaving your 25 item basket with the cashier, you just enhanced the supposed negative vibe towards farangs (also discussed on TVF).

 

"Solly", that my POV.

Edited December 26, 2019 by neeray
word change

[ross163103]

Family Mart has reusable bags for 3 baht apiece, not the biggest but cheap and decent.

[legend49]

18 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

Interesting the range in prices. Rimping you can pay 200 baht for cloth bag or Tops they charge 3 baht for a cloth bag.

[bagheera65]

There is a much more simple solution. I usually ask for - and keep the large platic bags from 7/11 or VM and use them for the trash bin, which avoid me to buy the special blue trash bags. Good thing that you let us know about that end of plastic bags as from now i will keep let's say 30 of them that i already have and use and re-use them each time needed! The law may forbid shops to give plastic bags but it doesn't forbid us to use the one we have! And the cloth bags are not as practical to hook on a motorbike. So, you just have one more week to get large plastic bags for free and stock them!

Edited December 27, 2019 by bagheera65

[bristolgeoff]

will be interesting to see what happens and if the thais start carry they own bags to the shops now when no plastic bags are given out

[MasterBaker]

Does this mean retailers will stop wrapping everything in plastic too? Don't think so. If you every done a beach cleanup in Thailand, you will see no plastic bacgs, but lot of wraps and styrofoam plates, which Macro and Tesco sell by hundreds.

 

Plastic don't kill environment, stupid people do

[rtco]

It's not the big retailers that we should be concerned about! What about all those plastic bags used by the street sellers and at the Thai markets. Ban them from using plastic bags and you can eat your food off the floor.

[Kerryd]

The Tops near me usually has 2-3 different sizes of reusable bags near the cash registers. I've been using one for months now. Some time ago they started doing a "no plastic bags on Tuesdays" routine to get people thinking about it. I got caught by that once but rather than stomp off in a childish snit, I bought a reusable bag. 
No problem.

Occasionally I forget it on the scooter (yeah, that's right, not all foreigners need to drive cars when running errands a couple hundred meters from home). I'll tell the cashier, dash out the scooter to get my bag while she continues to ring things through and then load the bag while she's making change.
No problem.

I also carry a Villa market bag, though it is somewhat smaller that the one I have from Tops. The Villa at the "Little Walk" has the bags for sale near the cash registers as well.

Often when I did a shopping run in the past, I'd end up with 2 bags "double-bagged" and 2-3 single bags (and sometimes they'd bag things before putting them in the larger bag). So, 6-7 bags per week (or more).
Now I usually get by with no plastic bags, though they will occasionally bag some meat packages if they are a bit "drippy".

I can't wait to read all the news stories in the New Year of all the "high and mighty" foreigners that starve to death because they are unable to do any grocery shopping because they aren't offered plastic bags and won't buy a reusable one.

Followed by all the "this is the last straw - I'm leaving Thailand" threads of course.

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

{snipped}
Followed by all the "this is the last straw - I'm leaving Thailand" threads of course.

I just hope they're paper straws, not plastic.

[chrissables]

16 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.

If you go on a planned shopping trip, you can take your own bag of course. But if you pop in for some items when on the way home, they should bag them. Education will slowly work. The stupid no bag "that's it" attitude is ridiculous! Especially when you look at the amount of packaging on too many items.

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, chrissables said:

If you go on a planned shopping trip, you can take your own bag of course. But if you pop in for some items when on the way home, they should bag them. Education will slowly work. The stupid no bag "that's it" attitude is ridiculous! Especially when you look at the amount of packaging on too many items.

Why would you want to bag them, the old way did not work nobody brought bags. Its an all or nothing kind of thing. Its the same in all other countries in the world that are mildly civilized.

 

I have been bringin my own nylon bag that folds up. Its so easy to just have a bag like that in the car or motorbike.

 

I don't get the childish foreigners who refuse to plan and make a big show out of it. I guess they are totally inflexible and not willing to change. I guess that happens more the older one gets. 

[Don Mega]

2 minutes ago, robblok said:

 

I don't get the childish foreigners who refuse to plan and make a big show out of it. I guess they are totally inflexible and not willing to change. I guess that happens more the older one gets. 

Am hoping to see one at the supermarket chucking a tantrum, will video it and throw it up on my facebook page !!

[robblok]

6 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Am hoping to see one at the supermarket chucking a tantrum, will video it and throw it up on my facebook page !!

Yes show the world what kind of fools are walking among us ????

[thailand49]

Not prepared?  Welcome to Thailand! or " This is Thailand "

[whaleboneman]

The world as we know it is quickly coming to an end and some supposedly educated people are complaining about the need to give up plastic!

[HHTel]

4 hours ago, 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.

Too proud to buy a re-usable from Tops.  29 baht which is a little steep but you only buy it once.  Cutting off your nose to spite your face???

[HHTel]

3 hours ago, Curt1591 said:

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

There are exceptions as there are in other countries.  Wet produce being one of them.

[fulhamster]

15 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 ????

Not easy to carry bulky shopping on a motocy without bags

[phil2803]

I look for a box to put my shopping in but have to be quick in some places, they crush them.

[verticalift]

[HHTel]

1 hour ago, rtco said:

It's not the big retailers that we should be concerned about! What about all those plastic bags used by the street sellers and at the Thai markets. Ban them from using plastic bags and you can eat your food off the floor.

Well come Jan 1st 2021 then the ban on single use plastic becomes law which covers everyone.  Still, since when did Thailand worry about laws!

[colinneil]

3 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

Not easy to carry bulky shopping on a motocy without bags

I cannot believe that you said that, you never in the boy scouts?

You know be prepared, you just get yourself a suitable strong bag, put it under the mc seat until needed.

[Rocking Robert]

Just deal with it

[HHTel]

59 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

but rather than stomp off in a childish snit, I bought a reusable bag. 

Hooray, there are some adults on this forum.  Well done, you.

[Dustdevil]

NEWS FLASH--Pattaya isn't prepared for anything.

[Dustdevil]

14 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. 

Because in most of Thailand, you walk outside for more than 5 minutes and you need a shower.

[Naturesway]

Somehow nothing really works here if it’s about for better environment, the majority only consider the own comfort, lack of consciousness and foreseeing of life remains the main issue. 

[Jimbo2014]

Dear Thailand.  You cant just ban plastic bags as most plastic doesnt come from just bags.  Its a good start but you need to do the following:  Ban plastic straws, packaging etc. where unnecessary, police the ban, heavily fine people for littering, conduct a public awareness campaign.  Only after this combination of actions can you hope to see change.  

[Assurancetourix]

17 hours ago, Yinn said:

Think they can find some.

 

Doesn't it make you react to see how the Thai people consider their country?
A huge open garbage can 

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, Rimmer said:

residents seem unprepared for the change

Thais seem to have a penchant for acting on changes very slowly.

They'll be asking for a six month an extension after New Year.