Tips for recycling and reducing plastic use in Thailand

[Big Boy]

OK, maybe that's the problem then, just a natural overflow.

[buksida]

Plastic reduction efforts 'a success'
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) says the first year of the country's effort to reduce plastic waste has been successful and has received cooperation from the business sector.

"Our plan to reduce plastic waste is in its early steps and voluntary, but we received strong cooperation," said Suwanna Tiasuwan, deputy director-general of the PCD at a meeting to mark the first anniversary of government's campaign to reduce plastic waste.

"We see voluntary bans of single-use plastic bags and we see better law enforcement related to plastic waste management."

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... -a-success



This department must be next door to TAT, making a fine bullshit sandwich between them. Do these pelicans ever actually go out and take a look around ... I bet they don't shop in 7-11 either.

[Big Boy]

I try to be plastic conscious, but have you ever tried to avoid plastic altogether? We all know the problems associated with 7-11, Family Mart etc, but outside of those plastic monsters, it's virtually impossible to avoid. A couple of daily examples for us:

We often have lunch in the MV food court. No much plastic there you think, served on plates etc. Wrong. I usually have the same thing (yes, boring). Spring rolls and cabbage wrapped in sticky rice (don't know the name, but tastes lovely). It is served on a plate, and I'm given a giant toothpick to put the food into my mouth with. Then the sauces - 2 types, come in single use plastic containers. I have a drink, it comes in a plastic bottle. Mrs BB has a sweet, it comes in single use plastic container. Unless we take our own containers for sauce, I'm stuck. Sweets seem to be pre-packaged for ease. So without trying, we've been party to a lot of plastic waste - probably less than most in the food court. think how many pass through that food court every day. Just providing ceramic sauce holders would make a difference. Why not pour drinks into cups or glasses (even reusable plastic would help)? Why do sweets come in plastic containers - serve it straight into a ceramic bowl. OK, there's more washing up, but it has to be better than more plastic waste.

Then we go upstairs for shopping. Milk in plastic bottles, buy bread wrapped in plastic, buy a cooked chicken, and it is put into a styrofoam tray and wrapped in plastic. I could go on, and it hurts me everytime I get to the checkout where 90% of people are still packing their shopping into plastic carrier bags.

I still try, and will continue trying, but get the feeling I'm p*ssing in the wind. I am conscious of what I'm doing, but don't know the alternatives.

[HHTel]

Agreed, BB. We will keep trying despite everything in the hope that one day, just maybe, the penny will drop.
That's not going to happen anytime soon. But 'hope springs eternal'.

[Dannie Boy]

I’ve been to Thai Watsadu twice in the last week and on both occasions they put the items I had purchased into a recycled cardboard box rather than a plastic bag - hopefully this is a permanent change rather than a temporary initiative

Changing the subject slightly, I read on the internet that Waitrose in the UK are really going all out to eliminate as much plastic as possible and shoppers are encouraged to bring in their own containers to buy a wide range of bulk items - hopefully it will catch on in the UK and eventually spread to even this part of the world.


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[hhinner]

^^ Saw the Waitrose thing on either a Sky or BBC news report yesterday. Interesting the range of goods available, including wine and beer on tap. Just a small corner of the store though, but it's a start. I've previously seen reports of small shops doing this kind of thing, so, nice to see the big boys trying.

[buksida]

Back to Thailand ...

HOMEPRO TO CHARGE ONE BAHT PER PLASTIC BAG
Starting this July, plastic bags at HomePro will cost one baht each.

Home-improvement megastore HomePro is Thailand’s latest retailer to attempt to decrease plastic bag use. From July 1, customers who insist on receiving a plastic bag will have to pay one baht per bag.

The store hopes the policy will prompt customers to switch to reusable cloth bags.

“The point is we have to start with ourselves and then expand the initiative to the [customers],” HomePro’s communications head Siriwan Sermcheep said.

In 2016, HomePro began banning plastic bags on the 4th, 14th, and 24th of every month.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/shop ... astic-bag/

[Big Boy]

Problem is, IMHO, supermarkets as we know them just could not operate without the plastic. After my little rant earlier, we did exactly the trip I used as an example.

I was looking around me, and thinking how much would have to change drastically to get rid of the plastic. It would probably take double the floorspace, and double the staff. There's no wonder it isn't happening.

[buksida]

If it was disposed of correctly it wouldn't be such a problem. Thailand has billions to budget for Chinese submarines but no money for a few decent incinerators or landfill projects (I know that is not really the solution though).

Additionally, not just here but Asia wide, the people are 'trash blind' - totally apathetic to the problem with the view that it actually belongs in rivers and the ocean or all over the floor or in stinking piles waiting to be burnt giving them dioxin poisoning and cancer.

[HHTel]

Back to Thailand ...

HOMEPRO TO CHARGE ONE BAHT PER PLASTIC BAG
Starting this July, plastic bags at HomePro will cost one baht each.

Home-improvement megastore HomePro is Thailand’s latest retailer to attempt to decrease plastic bag use. From July 1, customers who insist on receiving a plastic bag will have to pay one baht per bag.

The store hopes the policy will prompt customers to switch to reusable cloth bags.

“The point is we have to start with ourselves and then expand the initiative to the [customers],” HomePro’s communications head Siriwan Sermcheep said.

In 2016, HomePro began banning plastic bags on the 4th, 14th, and 24th of every month.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/shop ... astic-bag/

I'm sure with the average till price of shopping in HP, 1 baht per bag is going to be a real deterrent!
And have they said where these 1 baht's will go. In the UK the levy on plastic bags goes to chosen charities.

Edit: Just read the whole article and they do say that it will go to charity.

[Big Boy]

FFS, just ban them across the board, worldwide - people will soon find alternatives.

[handdrummer]

FFS, just ban them across the board, worldwide - people will soon find alternatives.

You would have to ban all manufacturing of non-disposable plastic. Without an alternative that's not a realistic goal. I still want to know how to dispose of wet garbage if one doesn't have a garden for composting? I've asked this question several times and never get an answer and until I do, I'll continue to use plastic bags.

[Big Boy]

I am specifically talking plastic bags. However, if it's so bad for the environment, why not significantly reduce or stop it?

[HHTel]

FFS, just ban them across the board, worldwide - people will soon find alternatives.

You would have to ban all manufacturing of non-disposable plastic. Without an alternative that's not a realistic goal. I still want to know how to dispose of wet garbage if one doesn't have a garden for composting? I've asked this question several times and never get an answer and until I do, I'll continue to use plastic bags.

I'm not going to do it for you. Google your question. There's an abundance of answers out there. Plastic was invented in around 1950 and didn't come into it's own until well into the 60's. I grew up without plastic as I'm sure many forum members did.
Excuses are easy. Try a positive approach!

[HHTel]

Sainsbury's has become the first UK supermarket to remove plastic for its loose fruit, vegetables and bakery items.

By September, paper bags will be available to customers for loose bakery items. Customers buying loose fruit and vegetables will either be able to bring their own bags or buy a re-usable bag made from recycled materials.

This alone will reduce their plastic output by 489 tonnes, and the retailer is also reducing the amount of plastic used for its packaged fruits and vegetables.

Read more: People eating at least 50,000 plastic particles a year, study finds (The Guardian)

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/environm ... li=BBoPWjQ