THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Plastic bags are just the tip of the trash mountain

Plastic bags are just the tip of the trash mountain

Once again we are hearing that Thailand is getting serious about plastic bags, this time because it’s Thai Environment Day (today). Note that nothing is being mentioned about all the other plastic waste, just the bags. 

A quick walk down the aisles of any convenience store or supermarket reveals row upon row of non-biodegradable plastic jugs, pots, bottles and containers. Milk, yoghurt, pot noodles, eggs and many more common edible commodities are packaged in plastic of one form or another. The chilled cabinets meanwhile are packed with sweet, coloured, fruit-flavoured drinks – most of which most are in plastic bottles. Many items are packaged with plastic straws or spoons. Every single pack is plastic and, if they are packed in bundles of 4, 6 or 10, there is yet another layer of plastic holding them together. But when it comes to plastic carrier bags, Good Lord!, you can’t be seen with those, and will be advised to use a cloth one.
Until the main food producers and soft drink companies are forced to use biodegradable materials, nothing will improve for the world’s oceans or its animals. We will be knee-deep in the stuff soon.
Lungstib

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