Plastic soup
Thailand is in the top 10 of the largest plastic polluters. It will not surprise anyone who has been here. Every purchase goes in a plastic bag, even if it's the only thing you buy and it's already wrapped (of course in plastic).
We just got rid of a cake, or rather 2 pastries. (The two of us, so only one pp (unfortunately :-)). They are individually placed on a pie-shaped plastic coaster. Then there is a plastic foil around it (which you can easily remove, fortunately) and on top of that is a cake slice-shaped transparent plastic bell jar. You get plastic spoons, which are of course in a foil. Everything goes in a plastic bag at the checkout. So you can easily get into the top ten.
We want to make our contribution to a lower listing at our modest level and therefore ensure that we have a shopping bag with us. Particularly on the market, it is still difficult to make it clear that the vegetables really do not need a plastic bag first. And at the supermarket checkout we regularly have to make it clear that a half-full shopping bag can still hold a lot, because if there are 4 things in our bag, the checkout girl wants to grab a plastic bag.
Convenience serves people, so we regularly eat out or get something to eat at one of the countless restaurants or street food stalls along the road. That is often even cheaper here than if you cook yourself. A takeaway size goes here, you can already feel it coming, in plastic bags, which then go together in a plastic bag. To be able to contribute to the reduction of the plastic soup there too, we have purchased a handy pan set.
Today's takeaway thai hadn't fully understood the purpose of the pans. But we keep looking on the bright side: it made a difference.
On the top right of the photo of the cheerful owner of DP Coffee in Hang Chat, you see 2 “beautiful photos” of the cakes in their packaging.
And don't forget all that foam, used as a plate and then thrown in the trash
Moderator: Please credit the source for such assertions.
I don't even want to talk about it anymore, my in-laws already gag some shopping bags but they just don't understand the point, or don't want to understand.
Think the only thing that would help if the UN were to impose sanctions on Thailand
Indeed, people use (too) much plastic in Thailand, but it is very hygienic with food. If you buy food in the Netherlands from the Chinese, fishmonger, cafeteria, etc., almost everything is also wrapped in plastic. The big difference is in the divorce. Hopefully they will do better in the future. The apartment complex in Chiang Mai where I often stay is already doing it for a large part.
I find it easy to use plastic bags. . The problem is that after use it is thrown around everywhere
The Thai easily throw something on the street. when there is a lot of wind, you can see the plastic bags flying through the air like rewards.
I am not in favor of the Singapore system except for the fine for throwing rubbish on the street. Putting a hefty fine on that, and also enforcing it, will solve a large part of the problem.
Years ago they tried to introduce this. Then there was a big sign on DonMuang. No littering. 3000 baht fee. But disappears just as quickly as all the other lines
When we go shopping we always take a large bag with us (from Gamma and Jan Linders) and thank you for the plastic bags. There is even one supermarket (Max Value) that has a promotion, if you don't take plastic bags you get a stamp for every 300 Thb and 10 stamps you get a voucher of Thb 25.
I think we are the only ones participating, because almost every time my wife has to explain to the cashier about that action.
At Big C we do take the plastic bags with us, which are used as garbage bags. (we remain Dutch).
But we don't throw away plastic. We collect that in a big bag and when it is full we put it on the road. Usually it is gone within 5 minutes, we have done our good deed again that day and someone who collects plastic is happy.
In my opinion, this has already been discussed recently because it is no longer allowed to seal water bottles with a simple shrink wrap.
NB that shrink wrap, the government makes a problem of that, something with splinter and beam in eye?
Incidentally, those shrink films are still on those bottles, so when this should come into effect, perhaps with St. Juttemis, who knows.
Even soup, fruit juice or fruit in a plastic bag.
Straw or pick for on the go.
Another nice report for the stragglers of the things you notice in foreign countries.
I can tell you from my own observation that in Bali and in Viet Nam it is just as bad with plastic use and plastic pollution.
I suspect it's like that all over Asia (with the exception of Singapore and Hong Kong).
I blame it on ignorance and the millennia-old habit of not having to worry about the waste because it was all biodegradable and thus food for nature again.
Unfortunately, microplastics have already been found in bottled water, beer, honey and sea salt.
What is the purpose of that sign กรุณารอสักครู่ (Wait a minute please) there on the counter?