In a bid to rid the country of four types of disposable plastics within two years, Thailand’s cabinet has endorsed a plan to make single-use plastics illegal just over 13 months from now.
Following the cabinet meeting today, Minister Warawut Silpa-archa of the environment ministry said the government had approved his proposed ban to come into effect on New Year’s Day of 2021.
Dozens of Thai malls pledge to drop plastic bags for 2020
Specific penalties for violating the planned ban were not specified. Warawut’s announcement comes in the wake of movement away from Thailand’s dependency on the convenience of river-choking and wildlife killing disposable plastic.
In recent weeks, dozens of shopping malls and department stores signed onto an agreement to stop providing plastic bags in January.
“The participating stores are all Thailand’s biggest names including 7-Eleven, Central, HomePro, Big C and more,” Warawut told Coconuts Bangkok last month.
Related:
21st dugong of 2019 dies in Thai waters, nearly double the average
Beloved baby dugong ‘Mariam’ dies in Thailand with plastic in stomach
Thai fish now available with 78 types of plastic inside
Thailand devastated by death of 2nd orphan sea baby
Baby Mariam’s death to be a wake-up call for environmental, wildlife conservation
Thailand plans to eliminate 3 types of plastic this year
Tesco Lotus will replace plastic with recyclable paper bags on Thai Environment Day
Malls and stores nationwide will halt plastic use Dec.
Reader Interactions