Thailand starts the decade with a plastic bag ban at major stores

Getty Images

Thailand is beginning the new decade with a plastic bag ban, forbidding single-use bags at major stores, officials told reporters Wednesday.

The ban at major stores is a part of the country’s campaign to reach a complete ban by 2021 to limit sea debris. The campaign picked up this year after animals like deer and baby dugong were found dead with plastic in their digestive systems. 

Varawut Silpa-Archa, the minister of natural resources and environment, told reporters Wednesday that Thailand was the sixth country that dumped the most waste in the water. 

“During the past five months, we were down to 10th … thanks to the cooperation of the Thai people,” Varawut said, according to Reuters, after giving out reusable bags.

The ministry reports that the country reduced the use of bags by 2 billion in the first part of the campaign, which involved customers voluntarily refusing plastic bags. 

Several U.S. states have also passed plastic bag bans, including in Maine, Vermont, New York, California and Hawaii’s counties.

Tags Plastic Bag Ban plastic bags Thailand

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed..

Main Area Top ↴

ovp - video bin

Kelly Rizzo shares details about launching Comfort Club

Kelly Rizzo shares details about launching Comfort ...
Debbie Allen talks 'Grey's Anatony' and her new ...
Fiona Rene shares the unique way she gets into ...
Taylor Krause says her 'brain geunuinely ...
Bethany Joy Lenz opens up about surviving a cult
Dafne Keen shares what it was like on the set of ...
More Videos
Main Area Middle ↴
Main Area Bottom ↴

Most Popular

Load more

Video

See all Video