Bangkok throws away 80 million plastic bags a day

BANGKOK, May 21 (TNA) -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said that people in the capital throw away 80 million or on average 8 plastic bags per person every day. Chakkaphan Phewngam, the deputy governor of Bangkok today presided over the press conference for the launch of the World Environment Day 2018 which was also attended by representatives from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Mr Chakaphan announced the government's support for the UN's plans to designate June 5 as the World Environment Day. For 2018, UNEP has announced a conservation program dubbed 'Beat Plastic Pollution' with the catchy slogan 'If you can't Reuse It, Refuse It'. The deputy governor revealed that on average Bangkok disposes of 10,000 tons of garbage every day. Eighty million plastic bags make up part of these and considering the 10 million residents living in the capital, this averages out to eight bags per person. The deputy governor says the problem is the attitude of Bangkok consumers who more often than not immediately throw away plastic bags right after usage. What becomes a problem is the 450 years it takes for plastic to degenerate. He stated that it costs about 700 baht to burry one ton of plastic in landfills and 1,000 baht to incinerate. On average, the BMA buries 80 per cent% of all garbage it collects. The deputy governor admitted that although campaigns to promote less plastic bag usage has been sustained it has had very little impact on consumer behaviour. Mr Chakkaphan thus revealed that the BMA is joining hands with local environmental conservation groups to launch the 2018 World Environment Day event between June 5 - 7 at the Eden Zone at the Central World Shopping Complex. The aim of the event is to ignite a spark among the general public on the need for greater environmental awareness and everyone's responsibility in looking after the planet beginning with reduced plastic bag usage. (TNA)