Thailand big contributor to plastic trash on ocean floors

[Lite Beer]

Thailand big contributor to plastic trash on ocean floors
AGENCIES

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is one of the top 10 countries that have been mismanaging their plastic waste, which has resulted in plastic debris sinking to the bottom of the sea along its coastlines, a study published in the Science journal said.

The world's oceans are clogged with plastic debris, enough to place five grocery bags full of plastic trash on every foot (30 centimetres) of every nation's coastline around the globe, the article in Thursday's edition of the journal read.

The list is topped by China, which is responsible for 8.82 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Thailand comes in at No 6 with 1.03 million tonnes.

Based on 2010 data, the study estimated that a staggering 8 million tonnes of plastic debris entered the oceans every year from the 192 coastal countries across the world.

Judging from the rising level of waste, more than 9 million tonnes of trash is expected to end up in the oceans this year.

Experts have been sounding an alarm over the past few years about how plastic pollution is killing huge numbers of seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles and other creatures and also adversely affecting ocean ecosystems.

"In short, you name it and it is probably somewhere in the marine environment," said Kara Lavender Law, a research professor of oceanography with the Massachusetts-based Sea Education Association.

The plastic debris found on ocean floors ranges from shopping bags, bottles, toys, food wrappers and fishing gear to cigarette filters, sunglasses, buckets and toilet seats.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thailand-big-contributor-to-plastic-trash-on-ocean-30254077.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-14

[Crazy chef 1]

They actually even decorate their beaches with plastic and the rest of the country- must be a cultural thing what we don't understand....

[Beng]

Asia and Africa are the biggest litterers.

[Mcffee]

Don't forget the trainloads of plastic rubbish they buy for monks to receive blessings they need for 'good luck', and the huge pollution caused once a year by kratongs carrying plastic flowers and shit that end up in all the rivers.

A true Buddhist does not pollute the earth.

[daveAustin]

BAN plastic bags for starters. Trigger-happy 7-11 is a major contributor. Would you like that bag of chips and bottle of water double-bagged and a couple of straws to go, sir.

[awayego]

A few years ago I sailed across the Atlantic from Cape Verde to the Caribbean - it took 22 days at sea without seeing another boat, ship or aeroplane.

And yet, not just every day but all the time, we passed plastic bags and other floating plastic debris. It was truly shocking to see.

Plastic and other waste does not just sit out of sight on the sea bed - much of it is highly visible. The damage it does to sealife is immeasurable.

IMHO, they should ban plastic bags altogether and make all packaging bio-degradeable.

Wishful thinking I know but if we don't do something soon we will drown in a sea of plastic, along with all the other species we are killing off.

[johng]

Now we know the real reason for rising sea level 9 million tonnes of rubbish every year

[Lobo4819]

Another hub?

[willyumiii]

While some of the environmentally progressive places on the planet ( like California ) have actually banned plastic bags, when you look around Thailand, it appears that they grow plastic bags as a crop or use them as a decoration!

I have been told that Thai's have some sort of mental filter that allows them to not see garbage.

They can look at a scene like this and only see a beautiful beach and not the garbage.

I think Thailand is missing a great opportunity here.

Thailand should also outlaw plastic bags.

Thailand has the land and workforce to grow fast growing trees for pulp and produce biodegradable paper to use for paper bags.

It would employ thousands of Thai people and be a great thing for the environment and for tourism in Thailand.

The farmers, pulp mills, bag producers and distributors would all be new jobs created by this initiative

.

I believe that the root of the problem is that Thailand along with the other countries listed in this article..

" Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh. "

are countries where the people only live for today.

There is no thought of tomorrow or planning for the future.

"What can I have for me, right now?" is the daily mantra.

It is way past time to wake up!

[Bkungbank]

Each time I swim in Jomtiem beach if happen to come across some plastic bag floating on the water ,

I'll pick it up as some sea turtle might thinking fat jelly fish and die in torture way after eating it.

We don't complaining but start acting!

[jlwilliamsjr18]

In the country side, people burn their plastic, releasing toxic fumes for all to ingest. Worse is, the public trash collectors haul off the the non-recyclable plastics and burn them in huge piles. Look for black smoke on the horizon, take a whiff. It's not always morning fog or dew in the air. Best part, local authorities do nothing. Oh...and yes, it's cancer causing.

[willyumiii]

On second thought...

Having plastic bags everywhere in Thailand is a valuable resource to Thai people.

As we all know, Thai people will get very ill if their hair gets wet from rain water.

It is very convenient to be able to bend over and pick up a good rain hat whenever you need one in Thailand!

[Sydebolle]

Let's be fair; it only works through the money chain. In Europe people started reusing bags or purchased proper shopping bags made of god-knows-what in order to reuse them for years.
Today you are charged upto THB 10/bag in certain countries in Europe for each and every plastic bag and only ever since it sank into the consumers mind to reuse bags. Not done for environmental but financial reasons.
Here everything is packed in bags. The other day saw a customer in front of me getting a packet of cigarettes at the local 7/11. Packed in a plastic bag, taken out of the plastic bag outside the store and the bag ...... dropped on the floor so the mandatory dog lying in front of the 7/11 main door could have a sniff. Seconds later the bag was blown into the road.
Charge the customer = will do wonders and get Thailand off this regretfully existing list

[trogers]

On second thought...

Having plastic bags everywhere in Thailand is a valuable resource to Thai people.

As we all know, Thai people will get very ill if their hair gets wet from rain water.

It is very convenient to be able to bend over and pick up a good rain hat whenever you need one in Thailand!

DSCF8208.JPG

And a DIY condom when used with a rubber band.

[Mr Somtam]

While some of the environmentally progressive places on the planet ( like California ) have actually banned plastic bags, when you look around Thailand, it appears that they grow plastic bags as a crop or use them as a decoration!

I have been told that Thai's have some sort of mental filter that allows them to not see garbage.

They can look at a scene like this and only see a beautiful beach and not the garbage.

Thailand_Rayong_beach_rubbish_6594_1.JPG

I think Thailand is missing a great opportunity here.

Thailand should also outlaw plastic bags.

Thailand has the land and workforce to grow fast growing trees for pulp and produce biodegradable paper to use for paper bags.

It would employ thousands of Thai people and be a great thing for the environment and for tourism in Thailand.

The farmers, pulp mills, bag producers and distributors would all be new jobs created by this initiative

.

I believe that the root of the problem is that Thailand along with the other countries listed in this article..

" Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh. "

are countries where the people only live for today.

There is no thought of tomorrow or planning for the future.

"What can I have for me, right now?" is the daily mantra.

It is way past time to wake up!

Education to learn critical thinking, common sense, problem solving ability. And financial stimuli: you want a plastic bag? Ok, 20 baht please. Ever seen a Thai family do shopping in big c/tesco? 500 baht of stuff packed in those small plastic bags. Ask 20 baht a bag and see how quickly they start bringing their own (reusable) bags! They will complain for a week or two and then just accept it, problem solved...

[Gandtee]

Just three weeks ago my grandson lost a sailing race due to plastic wrapped around his rudder. The seas are like rubbish dumps now.

[trogers]

Just three weeks ago my grandson lost a sailing race due to plastic wrapped around his rudder. The seas are like rubbish dumps now.

Wait till you can leave Mother Earth and you would see space debris floating around our world in a similar fashion.

[oneday]

What a surprise. Third world countries (in this instance) behind the ball with respect to environmental respect, awareness and responsibility. I shutter to think of all the problems this world will have, environmentally, in another 50 years or less. I do not envy people being born today.

[razer]

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They actually even decorate their beaches with plastic and the rest of the country- must be a cultural thing what we don't understand....

That's why foreigners need to go to Thainess school.

[Surasak]

Living in the dirtiest city in the Kingdom, it is clear to see the reason for so much plastic finding its way into the sea. They have run out of clear land space to dump it. Also the typical Thai attitude of, 'Not on my land', so it is thrown over the wall. Walk around most cities and try to find a bin in which to deposit ones rubbish, almost imposible.

[mok199]

explore thailand,discover thainess...sad

[Mister Fixit]

They actually even decorate their beaches with plastic and the rest of the country- must be a cultural thing what we don't understand....

Yeah, it's called 'Thainess' ...

[A1Str8]

Plastic should be banned for real.

[scubascuba3]

in 7-11 or family mart everything goes in a bag, if I bought a bag it would go in a bag. Everytime I have to say no thanks in thai of course.

[Crazy chef 1]

Now we know the real reason for rising sea level 9 million tonnes of rubbish every year

Bangkok is sinking:what comes around goes around....

[Moobahn]

Don't forget the trainloads of plastic rubbish they buy for monks to receive blessings they need for 'good luck', and the huge pollution caused once a year by kratongs carrying plastic flowers and shit that end up in all the rivers.

A true Buddhist does not pollute the earth.

Our condo on the chaopraya river provides krathongs for all residents but it's made of coconut shells, leaves and flowers. I did notice a few staples being used to hold it together, no plastic though.

[tif]

BAN plastic bags for starters. Trigger-happy 7-11 is a major contributor. Would you like that bag of chips and bottle of water double-bagged and a couple of straws to go, sir.

A few years ago 7/11 announced with pomp and ceremony it would no longer issue plastic bags. I believe that lasted just one day. The only other outlet which has stuck rigidly to not packing plastic bags is just one Tesco outlet in my main soi. However, every other Tesco outlet packs double. No consistency, much like their stupid banking system.

I had noticed a huge increase in plastic bags floating in the otherwise pristine (no tourists) sea in Rawai Phuket. I do find it odd that Thailand, an innovator in eco friendly packaging in the form of sugar cane bi products, are still unable to replace the mountain of plastic here.

[Johnny S]

Don't forget the trainloads of plastic rubbish they buy for monks to receive blessings they need for 'good luck', and the huge pollution caused once a year by kratongs carrying plastic flowers and shit that end up in all the rivers.

A true Buddhist does not pollute the earth.

Too bad so many thais are not true Buddhists but only think they are ...

[DLock]

We have learned that the only way to change Thailand is to shame them online so it goes viral and International.

That image posted earlier in this thread is just a disgrace.

Everyone should take pictures of polluted beaches and post them online....videos work even better.

Eventually the Thais in Government will get the message...I hope.

[lvr181]

BAN plastic bags for starters. Trigger-happy 7-11 is a major contributor. Would you like that bag of chips and bottle of water double-bagged and a couple of straws to go, sir.

Be a part of the solution (and not buy) rather than a part of the problem (when buying)?