"No plastic use" pilot project launched at Thai government agencies

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - A pilot project on the "no use of plastic" has been implemented by all Thai government agencies and large retail stores across the country. Announcing the policy at the "Meet the Press reform together" event, organized in Bangkok on Thursday, Thai Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Kanchanarat confirmed that government agencies under the supervision of 20 ministries and 12 large retail stores nationwide have first jointly launched the pilot project, under which no plastic bags and other products are used. General Surasak said that his ministry is evaluating the outcome of the pilot project, before expanding the campaign to the general public widely, covering the no use of plastic and polystyrene foam plates, bowls and cups. General Surasak cited latest surveys as raising a public awareness that more than 45,000 pieces of plastic and polystyrene foam have been used in Thailand annually. The minister conceded, however, that the Thai government's attempts on eliminating massive garbage having left out by local people and tourists need to take more times, with fresh markets and tourist sites nationwide being major sources of garbage including marine garbage. According to the minister, the Thai government's garbage eliminationg policy, covering over 400,000 tons of electronic wastes a year, is based on three major measures, aimed to protect people's health and the environment, include the strict enforcement of laws, the closure of businesses that cause pollution and the support of use of recycled products widely. The minister revealed that a meeting will be held in Bangkok on August 15, during which relevant parties will be briefed on Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha's orders on measures and legal penalties to cope with hazardous wastes in particular, covering all leftover cell phones and other electronic garbage, as well as used solar cells and radioactive parts. (TNA)