I was looking around my room today when I noticed an unusual amount of plastic bags. I don’t know where they came from or how they got here, but they are just hanging out making a nuisance of themselves. It’s impossible to go a day in Thailand without acquiring at least half a dozen plastic bags. Even buying something as small as a popsicle or a pack of paracetomol warrants a plastic bag.
It’s no wonder we have such a problem with garbage down here. In Phuket, we currently produce about twice as much rubbish as the incinerator is able to deal with. I can believe that, because everywhere I turn there are plastic bags going about their business, just casually drifting with the wind. They are threatening to take over the whole island.
The problem with plastic bags in Thailand is that shop assistants are trigger-ready to dish out as many of the pesky things as they can. There seems to be a train of thought that if you buy more than three or four items, then as many plastic bags as possible need to be used.
Plastic bags, being non-biodegradable, pose a real threat to Thailand’s environment. The bags can make life difficult for plants and animal life, as well as spoiling otherwise pretty scenery. You only have to look at the beach at Patong to see this in effect.
Thailand’s army of refuse collectors, who make a small amount of income selling recyclable materials, aren’t enough in numbers to tackle the problem. Next time you’re at 7-Eleven, Tops or Big C, tell the shop assistant to go easy on the plastic bags.
Well, at least half of the problem is us consumers contributing to the bag issue… we are too chicken feces or lazy to tell clerks not to put a single ice coffee or pack of gum into a bag which is automatic for them…but I despise not so much the clerks who are on autopilot, but the consumer who doesn't say anything, particularly when they immediately throw away the bag upon exiting the store!
I always tell clerks don't give me a bag if it's unnecessary (In Thai – 'Mai thawng sai toong'…which could also translate as 'don't use a condom' in the proper context:)
The second part of the issue is being conscious to reuse such bags, which work great as garbage bags…or better yet, rain gear for belongings on commutes (i.e. mobile phone, dirty clothes, books, etc.)
In Germany, I heard they tackled the problem by banning plastic bags at public shops, forcing consumers to bring their own reusable bags for grocery shopping, etc. Not a bad idea for Thailand.
I like the idea of reuseable bags… cotton ones which is what I use here. The same plastic bag problem exists.
Peace,
~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com
just last week i stopped off at my local 7-Eleven to buy some washing up liquid. As well as the customary fuss over plastic bags, the girl threw in a handful of drinking straws as well. Go figure!
oh yea..same problem here in Chiang Mai. Come cold season, all those bags will be burned… makes me sooooooo mad.
i rarely accept plastic bags. if there are just a few things, i prefer to just carry them in my hand.
I go into the same 7 – 11 almost every day to buy a drink or a snack and they always try to put this in a bag. I always say no thanks. "Mai tong sai tung kap"
I see other people at the same 7 – 11 take their drink in a bag, go outside, take the drink out of the bag and drop the bag in the garbage or on the floor.
I once had a friend who went to the government and proposed a comprehensive recycling program for Thailand.
He was laughed out of the office.
There wasn't enough corruption money to go around to make it worth implementing.
True story.
Worst of all is when the locals burn the plastic. There is video and commentary about this issue posted at my travel blog (jotazine.com).
It's like that in Japan too… though things are beginning to change. Though I suspect only factors like the rising price of oil will have any real influence on the matter.
As far as Germany goes: plastic bags aren't banned, but in supermarkets they're not given away – if you need one, it'll cost you 10 or 20 cents, or 50 cents for a solid fabric bag. Most people bring their own bags.
In other shops the assistants will only give you a plastic bag automatically if it's obvious you need one, but otherwise they might ask you if you want one, or you'll have to ask for one yourself. Paper bags are also quite common; and there's a seperate waste collection system for packaging of all types. (I was actually astonished recently when I bought an electronic item, and found there was no plastic packagig at all – the box was cardboard, and the parts were wrapped in soft paper).
Argh, the old one product one bag policy of Bangkok. How I miss it!
Big push towards not using plastic bags here. Most use reusable ones and get the loyalty points when they use them. Most of the supermarkets are now using bio-degradable bags too for people who can't break the addiction.
Sadly too many people have still got their addiction to throwing McDonald's wrappings out of car windows.