BANGKOK, 25 April 2013 The Department of Environmental Quality Promotion is targeting to have the public reduce usage of plastic bags by one bag perone person per day. If successful, the number of plastic bags that go to waste will be reduced by 67 million each day.
Department chief Chatuphon Burutphat said his department is collaborating with the CP All Public Company Limited to promote the reduction of the use of plastic bags. Shoppers will be encouraged to decline being handed a plastic bag when they purchase less than two items from shops, and also to reduce the number of plastic bags they use each time they go shopping.
Studies have found that Thais use 8 plastic bags per person per day. This amounts to 500 million bags every single day if all 67 million people in the country are taken into account.
Mr. Chatuphon said the attempt by the department will help keep the quantity of trash from exceeding the nation’s capacity in getting rid of them. He also added that greater efficiency in trash management can be achieved if the public helps reduce consumption and sort their garbage out into categories.
