Thailand bans plastic bags. What happens if you throw away trash?

① Thailand Bans Use of Plastic Bags

In an effort to protect the environment, Thailand has banned the use of plastic bags.
The ban, which was enforced from January 2020, aims to completely eliminate plastic bag usage by 2021, according to the Thai government
. The government also plans to significantly reduce the use of single-use plastics by 2022 and improve plastic waste recycling rates by 2027
. In Thailand’s eight broadcasting stations, plastic bags will be blurred out in programs, similar to how harmful substances like cigarettes, alcohol, and firearms are treated{vi17}.According to Thai environmental authorities, before 2020, a Thai person used about eight plastic bags per day

. Large retailers such as department stores and convenience stores in Thailand no longer provide plastic bags to customers
. Since the ban, Thais have been creating a buzz by carrying unique items as alternatives to plastic bags
. Photos of Thais using rice cookers, hangers, and carts instead of plastic bags when going to the market have spread like a trend on Thai social media
. Thais are using these unconventional items in place of plastic bags{vi23}.The humorous response of Thais participating in environmental protection has caught the attention of people around the world and has received positive reactions

. According to a public opinion survey conducted by the Thai National Institute of Development Administration, 18.47% of respondents expressed negative opinions about the plastic bag ban
. 79.32% said they would use bags or containers instead of disposable bags
. However, plastic bags are still being used in street stalls, markets, and small stores{vi28}.

② Limiting Import of Plastic Waste

Thailand ranked sixth among countries dumping marine plastic waste in 2018
. Since then, Thailand has been working to reduce plastic
. From July to December 2019, thanks to the Thai government’s campaign to reduce plastic bags, the country fell to 10th place
. According to the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand’s use of single-use plastic bags in 2019 decreased by 2 billion compared to the previous year, which is about 5,765 tons{vi42}.Thailand banned the use of plastic bags from January 1, 2020

. The Thai government encouraged the ban on plastic use by providing recyclable bags to the public
. Thailand began limiting the import of plastic waste in February
. The government plans to gradually reduce plastic waste imports and completely ban them by 2025
. The Thai government explained that the ban on importing plastic waste is a measure to prevent the flood of waste from developed countries, which pollutes water and affects the health of citizens{vi48}.

China used to handle about half of the world’s recycled waste
. However, a global waste crisis occurred when China stopped importing plastic waste in 2018
. As plastic waste from developed countries flooded into Southeast Asia, Thailand prepared measures related to plastic waste
. Thailand plans to implement policies to reduce plastic waste{vi58}.In 2017, a massive garbage island was discovered in the sea of Thailand

. A garbage line, about 1 km in length, was formed 8 km east of Koh Talu Island
. The estimated 300 tons of garbage island was described as the largest pile of garbage ever seen by environmental protection authorities
. At one point, Thailand was considered one of the countries with the most severe marine pollution in the world, along with China and the Philippines{vi63}.

③ Plastic Regulations Begin in National Parks

The garbage regulation policy in Khao Yai National Park near Bangkok, Thailand has garnered attention
. If visitors do not take their trash with them, they could receive it by mail at home
. Visitors to the national park must provide their addresses. If they do not dispose of their trash properly, the staff will track it and send it to the provided address{vi76}.The national park provides visitors with bags to collect their trash in advance

. In 2020, the Thai Minister of Environment left a message with a picture of the trash, saying, “You left these things in Khao Yai National Park. Your trash, we’ll return it to you”
. The National Park Office explained that it is dangerous for animals to eat discarded trash{vi80}.

Last year, Thailand banned the use of disposable plastic in national parks
. The Thai National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department declared war on trash
. It announced that disposable plastic and styrofoam packaging could not be used in national parks{vi89}.As a result, visitors are not allowed to carry plastic and styrofoam food containers, straws, cups, and lightweight plastic bags with a thickness of 36 microns or less
. Violators could face a fine of up to about $12,400
. The Thai National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department said, “The ever-increasing trash threatens numerous wildlife”
. Recently, there has been controversy in Thailand as cases of wildlife consuming plastic have been increasing

.