Illustrative image (Source: Coconuts) Bangkok (VNA) –The Thai government’s waste-management policy has reduced the use of 1.5billion plastic bags since August 17 last year, the country’s Pollution ControlDepartment (PCD) reported.
Local media on August 19quoted the PCD’s director-general PralongDamrongthai as saying the waste-managementpolicy focuses on waste separation, cutting down on the use of plastic bags andStyrofoam containers and urging officials at seaside national parks to preventthe dumping of waste into the ocean.
As for the privatesector, the PCD has urged convenience stores and department stores to launchplastic-reducing campaigns such as no-plastic bag day or giving discounts tocustomers who bring their own bags, he said.
Pralong added that thishas resulted in the reduction of approximately 4,385 tonnes of plastic. To addto this success, the PCD is preparing a plan to reduce or stop the use of sevenkinds of plastic by 2022.
The PCD plans to stop the use of three kinds of plastic products by the end ofthis year, namely cap seals for water bottles, oxo-biodegradable plasticpackaging and microbeads in cosmetics, face creams and toothpaste etc, he said.
The remaining four typesof plastic that will be eliminated by 2022 are plastic bags thicker than 36microns, Styrofoam food containers, single-use plastic drinking cups andplastic straws, he said.
The official said thefinal aim is to recycle or re-use 100 percent of plastic waste and containersby 2027.–VNA
VNA
