BANGKOK (Dec 31): A spate of wildlife fatalities in Thailand brought on by plastic air pollution has raised the alarm on plastic waste administration and disposal within the kingdom, in addition to placing the concentrate on the banning of single-use plastic baggage from Jan 1, 2020.
In June final yr, a lifeless pilot whale was discovered with eight kilos of plastic garbage whereas early this yr, a child dugong named Marium died from a abdomen an infection brought on by the ingestion of plastic. And simply final month, a lifeless deer at Khun Sathan Nationwide Park was discovered with seven kilos of plastic waste in its abdomen.
A marine biologist from Kasetsart College, Thon Thamrongnawasawat, stated about 300 marine species die yearly in Thailand on account of plastic particles.
In accordance with Thailand’s Air pollution Management Division (PCD), a mean of seven,000 tonnes of plastic and foam waste is produced within the nation day by day.
In a bid to cut back plastic waste, main Thai malls, supermarkets and comfort shops within the nation will cease giving out single-use plastic baggage from Jan 1.
A complete of 43 firms together with CP ALL Pcl, which operates greater than 10,000 7-Eleven comfort shops in Thailand, and the nation’s largest retailer Central Group, shall be enjoying their components to chop down on plastic baggage.
The 7-Eleven comfort shops solely present plastic baggage to prospects upon request whereas some 137 shops have already stopped offering plastic baggage from final month as a part of a trial earlier than the ban comes into drive in January. This has efficiently decreased about 991.85 million plastic baggage this yr and saved about 198.three million baht (US$6.6 million) as of Dec 29.
Beneath the Plastic Waste Administration Highway Map 2018-2030, Thailand will ban the usage of light-weight plastic baggage lower than 36 microns thick, styrofoam meals packagings, single-use plastic cups and straws by 2022, and goals for a 100% recycled plastic waste goal by 2027.
The PCD stated the division is working carefully with plastics business gamers to search out different supplies to switch plastic, in addition to wanting into the potential for turning plastic waste into power.
School scholar, Nattapol Pimpat, 25, stated shoppers should break their habit to plastic.
“Plastic bag is handy however it is going to kill marine life and disrupt the human meals chain…It’s not only a authorities or company accountability however (that of) civil society, and residents should play their components voluntary,” he instructed Bernama.
Animal feed vendor, Benchawan Kamta, 38, prompt the imposition of plastic bag tax and charging shoppers for plastic baggage.
She stated the federal government ought to construct extra trash financial institution (waste financial institution) within the neighborhood, the place locals may ‘deposit’ the waste in alternate for cash.
“It will cut back the stress on the landfill websites,” she stated.
