Natural Resources Min to reduce plastic bag use by 88 million



BANGKOK, 3 June 2016 (NNT) - The Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, in hand with retail malls, has held a seminar on the environmental impact of plastic bags, in order to raise awareness and reduce the use of plastic bags to combat global warming.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Surasak Kanjanakul delivered an keynote address at the seminar, where he revealed that Thailand has been able to reduce its plastic bag usage by 43 million over the past year.

The minister said that Thailand should pay special attention to addressing environmental concerns, given its role as Chair of the G-77 developing nations and party to the agenda set at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20-25% by the year 2030.

Gen Surasak said his ministry will campaign to raise awareness on the use of plastic bags, with the goal of reducing consumption by 88 million bags by December 5, 2016. The campaign goal is a tribute to His Majesty the King, who is currently 88 years old and was born on December 5th, 1927.


-- NNT 2016-06-03

"Thailand has been able to reduce its plastic bag usage by 43 million over the past year."

That's fewer than 7 Elevens give out in one day!!!

Edited June 2, 201610 yr by jaltsc

There is a field like that round the corner from us, not an official tip either

Educate 7-11 staff why one doesn't need to put a pack of chips and bottle of water inside a bag x2 (with straw) and to explain to things on bikes that dumping sh1t out of basket onto road is not good form. Will make a big difference. [emoji6]

It doesn't say who attended the seminar, was it just more officials from around the country on hotel accommodation and allowances ?

Don't tell us tell the supermarkets etc.

charge for them even one baht and usage will drastically be reduced

Educate 7-11 staff why one doesn't need to put a pack of chips and bottle of water inside a bag x2 (with straw) and to explain to things on bikes that dumping sh1t out of basket onto road is not good form. Will make a big difference. [emoji6]

Eductate and Thailand your having a laugh.

What happened to the beloved general's "No plastic bag Wednesdays"? I always annoy Tesco Lotus staff by repacking goods into fewer bags at the till. More often than not, 6 bags reduces to two! I even repack into my own re-usable bags at the till, just to make a point! Why do the checkout staff pack it anyway? At least Makro have the right idea!

Plastic bags are very convent for shopping and I reuse them later...

Plastic bags are great I love them...

i am so happy the Eco nuts have not taken over Thailand like some other places...

All you plastic bag haters should move to California you will feel right at home there.....

Edited June 3, 201610 yr by fforest1

charge for them even one baht and usage will drastically be reduced

I think they are forbidden in Bengladesh since many years and will be this year or next year in France .

Plastic bags are very convent for shopping and I reuse them later...

Plastic bags are great I love them...

i am so happy the Eco nuts have not taken over Thailand like some other places...

All you plastic bag hatters should move to California you will feel right at home there.....

Plastic bag hatters ?

Were they in Alice in Wonderland ?

Educate 7-11 staff why one doesn't need to put a pack of chips and bottle of water inside a bag x2 (with straw) and to explain to things on bikes that dumping sh1t out of basket onto road is not good form. Will make a big difference. [emoji6]

Better to educate yourself. Customers usually expect a bag and straws.

If you don't want them to put your stuff in a bag just tell them "Mai sai toong krab"

No straws " Mai ow lort krab"

They will oblige. Easy as.

Long is the list of problems with plastic bags

recycling and correct disposal are the main problems,

not enough bins and garbage collection, period,

conveinence vs enviroment at this time convienence wins,

we all need to change that equation so it reads the other way,

So much plastic in our oceans you can actually step out of the boat

on to a island of floating plastic,

that is testimony to our current throw away society,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_garbage_patch

I’ve often been critical of the quality and accuracy of the NNT reporting, and this item about the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion only serves to reinforce my opinion.

One wonders if the general referred to in the article was able to maintain a straight face when he boasted that 70 million of his countrymen managed to use 43 million fewer plastic bags over a one-year period – which equates to around 1 less bag every 594 days.

What a stunning statistic (and another achievement for the junta)!

Plastic bags are very convent for shopping and I reuse them later...

Plastic bags are great I love them...

i am so happy the Eco nuts have not taken over Thailand like some other places...

All you plastic bag haters should move to California you will feel right at home there.....

I reuse it as trash bags, love the big ones. Hate the 7/11 ones.

That said, many of the plastic bag from big companies such as Central Department store are eco bags, they will disintegrate after like 2 years - just saying.

charge for them even one baht and usage will drastically be reduced

Agreed. Seems to have worked very well for many other countries http://www.bigfatbags.co.uk/bans-taxes-charges-plastic-bags/

Simply asking people/having 'no bag days' has been proven not to work. Money out their pockets most certainly will though.

Where do plastic bag statistics come from??? Charge 1 baht per bag....Recycle... down 85% instantly

Thailand should pay special attention to addressing environmental concerns

Right after it builds the planned seven coal-fired power plants, and stops crop and forest burning

A number of people responding to this forum are suggesting that a charge on plastic bags may help solve the problem.

I agree, but if the following link is anything to go by, it may actually create other interesting problems: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/12097146/English-shoppers-steal-26.7m-worth-of-plastic-bags-since-5p-charge-introduced.html.

Don't forget the vested interests who own the bag making factories. They will fight tooth and nail to prevent usage reduction

Educate 7-11 staff why one doesn't need to put a pack of chips and bottle of water inside a bag x2 (with straw) and to explain to things on bikes that dumping sh1t out of basket onto road is not good form. Will make a big difference. [emoji6]

Eductate and Thailand your having a laugh.

While I'm having the last laugh.

Knowing based on work experience with them in the Middle East that by telling Thais you do not get anywhere, I always showed them and when they said they understood, I told them to get with the program while I stayed right there to make sure they did get with the program, if not, it was a one-way ticket back to Thailand and blackballed from future employment in the Middle East on average $500/month, free room and board and medical care, I-month vacation with full pay on end of contract Now retired I showed Housekeeping ladies what can be gained (Thai Baht) with recycling started with plastic shopping bags (the more the shop gives me the beter) I safe glass, cardboard, all different metals, letters and computer printer paper (must be in sheet form - do not tear it up then recycling does not want it) there is very very little that I put in the garbage. Once a month I hauled it off to the recycling collector and the Housekeeping ladies were amazed when I gave them the money the recycling collector had paid me for the month's collection. Now they are doing the collecting and even have the collector come to pick it up once a month and pay them the money for their effort.

Show them - do NOT tell them and then do not walk away but stay around to make sure they do it instead of the famous Thai, "It's up to you" or their other famous Thai saying, "Mai Pin Rai". Three years later they are still with it, the collecting recyclables that is.

Aren't most of the plastic bags biodegradable these days ?

Like others have said, I use the bags for bin liners they also make a good pair of disposable gloves and container for soi dog poo !

you can also where them as a hat if your caught out in a rainstorm without umbrella, can save your mobile phone too.

Hurrah for free plastic bags.

Google plastic islands in oceans !

Plastic is helpfull, but then we misuse it.

Thailand and many many more countries should do more about waste.

Spend money for splitting garbage and have incinerators (powersupply!) to get rit of the waste.

Reuse as much as possible. Also you have work for people to do, they have a job then !

No matter what, you pay for your plastic bag and all containers of stuff ! It is included in prices, you think it is service, hahahaha.

Educate in school the kids everywhere in the world, though they might be wondered why, we adults made such a mess.

I was by my own parents ! IF you had a candy, take the wrapping in pocket and put it away in garbage can. I still do.

Nowadays there are bottles with all kinds of fat making drinks, burgers and what they do, they throw it out in the street.

Even with a drive inn off a mcdonalds, they throw it out in the street after eating. The waste basket is allready so far away, lazy asses.

Or they move with car to other place and just kick it out .

I have my own bag, plastic, but i use it now over 15 years for groceries and still working ok.

Just take your own bag for shopping and reuse it. Just lazyness to bring own bag.

On all plastic bottles or even glass bottles put return money on it.

But i guess its easier to colonize Mars and start over again there

This figure of 40x million is something, but moreover it's nothing. It could and should be reducing use by 40 million per day, not per year.

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