In a surprise move six major retailers in Phuket Thailand have announced that from 4th December 2009 they will start charging for plastic bags, currently given away free with shopping.
The six retailers, Tesco-Lotus, Big C, Makro, Central, Supercheap and Jungceylon are expected to charge 1 or 2 Baht (2p-4p) a bag.
Personally I welcome this move which broadly fits in with the policy of Tesco UK and hope that it will spread throughout Thailand. Ever since I have lived here in this beautiful country I have been appalled at the use and disposal of plastic, mostly not bio-degradable, that exists in Thailand.
Unfortunately while the big players in Phuket are to be applauded for their efforts some of the biggest perpetrators of the plastic junk trade, 7/11, Mum and Pop stores and takeaway food carts, are not being asked to join the scheme.
To help put this in perspective, I have just been shopping in Khlong Wan. I bought three items at th 7/11 and some takeaway food. In total I ended up with six plastic bags, 2 drinking straws each wrapped in plastic and ten rubber bands.
Of course it remains to be seen whether Thai customers will simply pay for their plastic bags or whether they will start buying and using bio-degradable long life bags like the ones that are on sale in the UK.
If you want to vote in a poll on the subject click this link to the Phuket Gazette and take part.
So what do you think has Phuket found the answer to plastic bag waste in Thailand?
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3 comments:
Hi Mike,
Hopefully. It helped here in Sweden, but still people throw away take-away food carts and that sort of stuff because they're not charged anything.
Best regards
Asta
Mike, believe it or not my comment was going to be "IT WANT LAST " and todays headlines is put off to next year due to lack of education, the real reason is noone (Thai ) is going to pay for bags to carry their purchases home after they just spent their money to buy the stuff , they have tried that kind of stuff in the USA too and it just want fly. Malcolm
Asta- I always thought Sweden was very clean and tidy-you surprise me.
Malcolm thanks for the heads up. I will post the link here. Sadly if they don't take some action I fancy things will only get worse.
http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=8016
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