PM urges citizens to use less plastic bags

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said his government will from August 1 launch a campaign to eradicate waste nationwide, saying that Thailand, like many other countries, is encountering waste problems which have accidentally perished marine animals and forced the government to spend more than 20 billion baht yearly. Speaking on his weekly TV programme on Friday, Gen Prayut admitted that Thailand does not have enough waste treatment systems to cover all communities, creating about 10 million cubic metres of waste a day. Pitifully, Thailand now ranks sixth in the world in having most marine waste problem, killing many whales and turtles after consuming plastic bags discarded by people and tourists into the sea, he said. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has earlier launched a smoking ban in 24 coastal provinces in an attempt to reduce waste, he said. But that is not enough, said Gen Prayuth, adding that his government has, therefore, decided to launch more campaigns starting this August 1. These activities call for government agencies to reduce and separate waste, shopping malls as well as markets should reduce using plastic bags and foams while educating their customers to switch to using clothes bags. Other campaigns are using fewer plastic glass and foams while visiting natural parks and zoos, and to properly eradicate waste from land to sea in those 24 coastal provinces, said Gen Prayuth. Gen Prayuth said he had ordered the Interior Ministry to coordinate with related government agencies including the Natural Resources and Environment, the Public Health ministries in solving the waste problem as soon as possible. The government has established a comprehensive waste disposal center in over 7,800 local administrations that have come together to dispose of the country’s 324 landfills across the country within one month by taking into consideration size and the environmental suitability of each area, he added. (TNA)