Tips for recycling and reducing plastic use in Thailand

[HHTel]

Come on 7/11. You did the shouting a few months ago but did nothing. You are a major culprit for plastic waste in Thailand. Get your act together!

[Spitfire]

I don't really understand why these malls and 7-11 etc. - if they want to flaunt their now trendy important green credentials - just don't introduce bio-degradable plastic bags to give away to customers at the till and just raise every product's price by 1 or 2 baht a pop. I'd be happy to pay 43 baht instead of 41 baht for a tin of tuna if they were to do away completely with plastic bags that are the enemy of the environment. I don't want to pay for a plastic bag but would be OK to pay for a bio-degradable one instead ... jeez, they know nothing.

[HHTel]

Lots of current research have found that bags marked biodegradable or nothing more than a marketing con. Tests have shown that after being buried for 3 years, they are still functional and can hold shopping.
Compostable bags faired better but both biodegradable and compostable both need a specific environment and the two cannot be mixed.

[Nereus]

Lots of current research have found that bags marked biodegradable or nothing more than a marketing con. Tests have shown that after being buried for 3 years, they are still functional and can hold shopping.
Compostable bags faired better but both biodegradable and compostable both need a specific environment and the two cannot be mixed.

Yes, that is correct. In fact some research has shown that biodegradable bags are worse, because they break down into micro sized particles that eventually find their way into the food cycle, especially the water system.

[HHTel]

Just spoke with my daughter in Fleet Hants. She was telling me about a new store opened there, 'Scoop' I think she said the name was. It seems that none of their goods have packaging and definitely no plastic bags.
She took a couple of bottles to fill with washing up liquid and some tupperware containers which she filled with chocolate and things. In her opinion, it's a brilliant concept. All liquids are filled from large vats and the range of other produce is quite extensive. Also, it's much cheaper than packaged goods. You can take any type of container and fill it up with 'whatever'.
Let's see if it catches on and if it's still as popular in a year.

[hhfarang]

A few years down the road yet, but maybe someday this will help...

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-484 ... ctus-juice

[HHTel]

This what I got after 'googling':

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-484 ... ctus-juice

[HHTel]

Really strange. Watched it with no problems but copying the link produces BBC as BB pointed out.

[Nereus]

Really strange. Watched it with no problems but copying the link produces BBC as BB pointed out.

There is a way to post BBC links. Pete posted the details 2 or 3 months ago. Cannot find it just now.

[PeteC]

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=37993

Edited most of the above already.

[Big Boy]

I've seen this sign in Keswick posted partly in jest on Facebook today. It's got me thinking, dog pooh is a natural product. I've been thinking all of this time that I'm a bit of a hero with my poop scoop bagging and binning. Am I doing more harm than good? Stick and flick does make sense.

[HHTel]

Seriously, it makes a good point. Putting naturally produced matter into a plastic bag does seem like nonsense. However, one of the main reasons for removing dog poo is the health aspect. Dog feces do carry some diseases harmless to dogs but not to humans.

Beyond your grass, it has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhea, intestinal illness, and serious kidney disorders in humans. ... Dog feces are one of the most common carriers of the following diseases: Whipworms. Hookworms.

[migrant]

I think it makes sense, especially here. When our dogs crap on our property I don't rush out always to pick up and the sun and/or rain, seem to break it down in a day.

Flicking may not be as aesthetically appealing, and any who stray from a path may disagree, but seems good to me!

Of course highly traveled dog areas in climates that may not breakdown so fast might tend to smell too.

[Nereus]

I guess that there are not plastic bags big enough to hold some of the bovine ordure posted on here?

[HHTel]

Just come back from a trip to Koh Samet. There are notices when leaving the mainland pointing out that plastic and foam is not allowed on the island. It was strange to see the 3 x 7/11's with no plastic bags to offer. Alternative bags were on sale at 10, 15 and 20 baht.
Note to other 7/11's. No excuses. It can be done and is being done without any loss of trade.