Thailand launches anti-plastic bag campaign

[Lite Beer]

Thailand launches anti-plastic bag campaign
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, Jan 31 – Thailand's Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and CP-All, the world's third- biggest operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores, have launched a campaign aiming to encourage the public, particularly the youth, to cut their use of plastic bags at convenience stores for greater waste reduction in the country.

Department of Environmental Quality Promotion director general Jatuporn Burutpat said the amount of waste in Thailand has falled from an average 16 million tonnes a year by 300,000 tonnes as of 2013.

He said up to 20 per cent or 80,000 tonnes of the total waste quantity is plastic bags, which last year declined 10,000 tonnes a day. Fewer uses of plastic bags would efficiently help lessen pollution as plastic objects take longer time to decompose.

Mr Jatuporn said the “Kidtoong Kidtoong Season 3” campaign aims at reducing plastic bag usage to one bag a day in a bid to decrease the use of garbage bags.

This year, the campaign targeting youth will set up a network at schools nationwide so the students are aware of the effects of plastic bags. The project also calls on government sector to scrutinise the bill which allows bio-degradable plastic to be produced at lower cost as a solution to eradicate the use of plastic bags. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-01-31

[Soutpeel]

Easy solution ban them, or make people pay for them if they want a plastic bag

[taony]

And packaging. Its a much bigger problem. Everything you buy is wrapped in plastic wrapped in plastic. And thick plastic, not the thin plastic like the 7-11 bags.

Plastic doesn't really decompose either I don't think. It just breaks down into smaller and small pieces.

[CelticBhoy]

While they are at it at 7-11 they should cut down on the number

of straws, spoons, etc. that they dish out willy-nilly.

Why does two cans of coke need three straws? One yoghurt two spoons?

[Costas2008]

Saves them the effort to collect them from the streets and the beaches.

[huahinjoe]

Agree on cut off plastic bag usage and hopefully it puts an end on a strange habit like giving straw for even the beer

[barryofthailand]

If I'm not mistaken this campaign is launched every year. Last year they offered discounts for every cloth bag you filled at Tesco. This will never work in Thailand.

Barry

[MaxLee]

Thailand launches anti-plastic bag campaign

Haha, it will be forgotten within 2 seconds...

next gimmick please...

[taony]

While they are at it at 7-11 they should cut down on the number

of straws, spoons, etc. that they dish out willy-nilly.

Why does two cans of coke need three straws? One yoghurt two spoons?

I bought yogurt the other day, four cups wrapped together in plastic. Inside were four plastic spoons, also wrapped in plastic. The four cups could have been bound together with a band of plastic instead of covering the entire thing, or even by card board. The spoons are unnecessary. Most people are taking them home where they have spoons. The stores should keep a few spoons at the registers and if people need them, they can take them. I'm saving up all the spoons I get and will send them back to the company one day. Its so wasteful.

[Patje]

While they are at it, maybe also have a look at this ....

http://themindunleashed.org/2013/09/19-year-old-inventor-finds-way-to-clean.html

[Prbkk]

I like to think this can work: last year a young woman started a campaign and attracted huge support. 7-11 is now asking customers if they want a bag for smaller items. It might start small but the campaign will grow ...as it has in the west. Australian supermarkets no longer provide free plastic bags...unthinkable even a couple of years ago. Thailand will adopt this...in time

[JusMe]

Our local deli here in Ban Phe, Petra's, collects plastic bags. I took in a thickly packed bag of them to her just today.

I think in appropriate circumstances, they're reused, or properly recycled.

[ginjag]

If I'm not mistaken this campaign is launched every year. Last year they offered discounts for every cloth bag you filled at Tesco. This will never work in Thailand.

Barry

I shop at Tesco Extra, at the check out I refuse the bags, if you have a basket and refuse bags you get bonus points, if a trolley you receive more points.

Naturally out of trolley into my car boot easy, at home bag to take in the house.

Every 3 months I get money vouchers sent to my home address. varies on what you spend, example spending 20,000 baht =200 baht better than a kick up the B/side.

Don't forget you then have the added NO Plastic bag points on top.

[tomross46]

Is this the same campaign that was started 20 years ago? For the last 20 years, when I go shopping I have canvas bags. I try to stay away from plastic as much as possible, but the problem is also the packaging. I have not seen butcher paper in the meat market for decades. It is all plastic.

[terryp]

does that mean i wont get the usual 20 bags at Tesco BigC etc..1 bag per item

[ginjag]

does that mean i wont get the usual 20 bags at Tesco BigC etc..1 bag per item

What will most posters do--refuse the bags at checkout, at home when you sort out your tins-plastic-bottles-paper-----WE BUY PLASTIC BAGS TO SEPERATE THEM UP. then put them into PLASTIC bins for re cycle.

[edwardandtubs]

7-11 staff need training. Why do they put my bag of potato chips into a bag? Or a small item that I'm obviously going to put in my pocket?

[DocN]

Wow...what an inspirational and unique idea?

Haven't heard that before...in the last 3 months!

Make people pay and see, how it will get less!

And while you are on it: cut down on packaging or on...aaaaaahhhh.. mai pen rai...

[ginjag]

7-11 staff need training. Why do they put my bag of potato chips into a bag? Or a small item that I'm obviously going to put in my pocket?

There is another reason behind the thinking, if they put the item in a bag, it means you have paid for it. Sometimes carrying something out without you could be challenged, then look for the receipt that you threw down near the checkout.

[ginjag]

Did think of something stupid---The kids leaving school need the plastic bags to throw out the back of the school bus so the following drunk driver on the second bus can find his way by following the bags on the road.

[loseless]

Harsh. This is the right approach. Exactly the same with road safety issues. I'd like to see them launch TV ads in between the soap operas too.

[bender92]

While they are at it at 7-11 they should cut down on the number

of straws, spoons, etc. that they dish out willy-nilly.

Why does two cans of coke need three straws? One yoghurt two spoons?

Do what I do and tell them you don't want them. How hard is that?

[Cloggie]

When I buy at 7/11 I always say: "May sai thung khrap" - it's that easy to buy WITHOUT a plastic bag!

[Suriya4]

Just mandate that all plastic bag must have Thaksin face on it.

Usage will go down immediately.

[Patanawet]

I once bought, along with my shopping, one of Tesco's big strong reusable bags and put it to the front of the items to be checked. I told the assistant to pack the goods into the bag but NO that wasn't allowed. She had to put the purchased bag into another plastic bag!

[Why ask]

Who exactly launched this campaign, or did the country do it itself?

[crazykopite]

Hope they start by going around the schools and teaching the kids but ther again when you see parents just throwing it anywhere then the kids will end up no better what a pity the likes of Tesco , big c and macro do not have huge containers to encourage plastic items to be placed in that I am sure would be a start

[fishbrando]

Great first step - much of the trash that I see lying around is plastic bags and packaging.

One of the things I like about Thailand is the lack of overarching regulation and nanny-state rules, so I'm always weary of these sorts of rules. However, sometimes they are necessary, given the lack of awareness about keeping the city and the environment clean.

When they put straws into my bag, it physically pains me. I'm not 5 years old anymore, I can drink without a straw.

[ChrisY1]

Might as well campaign to send Chalerm to the moon......there's about as much luck!

But seriously......there has to be some form of control.......!

[imaderbyfan]

If I'm not mistaken this campaign is launched every year. Last year they offered discounts for every cloth bag you filled at Tesco. This will never work in Thailand.

Barry

I remember going in to my local Tesco a few years back, I was with the missus and we took a couple of green "Bags for life".

We were told by the staff that we couldn't use them because the security people could not see through them.

I e mailed some chap at their Bangkok office who promised that something would be done.....Yeah right.....