A conference has heard that it is time for the Thais to declare war on plastic bags that are one of te reasons there is so much trash in the kingdom.
And one of the ways to do this is to charge money for each bag.
The conference organised by NIDA, Thammasat University and environmental groups, met under the banner: “Plastic bags. We use them so who must pay?”
The answer to that was resoundingly the Thai people.
The conference used as its basis survey results that said more than 50% of Thais agree that the best way to lower the amount of bags used is to make consumers pay for them.
Experiences in foreign countries that have had success with this method were brought up for discussion.
Representatives from the plastics industry said it was not their fault per se but the fault of the people and where they throw them after use.
Some suggested that it was important that there were better standards of bags – if they break people would not want to pay for them. There should be standards in place to ensure quality.
And most were in agreement that the government needs to act with firm leadership in the matter.
About time too ! It is ludicrous the number of plastic bags that are given out by check-out staff, particularly in shops like Big C. There can be no justification for putting say, two items in a plastic bag.
It is time to follow the example of the UK where you are charged for bags or you can bring your own. Plastic is a global scourge and it is up to everyone to do something about it. Hopefully, all this not just hot air and something positive will actually get done.
It certainly has the support of the Times Group.
(Source: Channel 3)