Thailand marks Earth Day, aimed at reducing plastic waste

BANGKOK, April 23 (TNA) – Thailand held an Earth Day 2018 exhibition with an aim to raise awareness among young people to cut plastic waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gen Surasak Karnjanarat, Minister of Natural Resource and Environment on Sunday presided over the opening of the Earth Day 2018 Thailand at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center. The event was held under the theme “Young Generation Cuts Plastic Waste to Save the World from Global Warming”. According to the Department of Pollution Control, the Minister said Thailand’s plastic waste accounts for 12 per cent of all garbage in the country or about two million tonnes a year and only 0.5 million tonnes of plastics garbage is reused. The rest of plastic waste is buried or burnt while much is left in the environment. Raising concern over the garbage problem in Thailand, he said Thailand is ranked the sixth largest producer of plastic waste, entering the ocean. The ministry has worked with state agencies and 20 private organizations to instill a love for the environment into the young people, so they can help reduce plastic waste, he said. The minister said that the plastic bottle cap banning policy has been launched in Thailand. Plastic bottle caps, made from lightweight PVC material, can be easily dispersed in the environment, and are difficult to recycle, causing the problem of plastic waste on the land and in the sea. Thailand plans to cut the greenhouse gas emission by 20 per cent in the future and to increase forest areas to 55 per cent of the total areas in 2030. (TNA)