Activists join a campaign called 'Everyday Say No to Plastic Bags' on Dec 25 at the EmQuartier shopping mall in Bangkok.(Source: bangkokpost.com)Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand began the year with a ban on single-use plastic bags at major stores, continuing acampaign launched by the government and retailers towards a complete ban in2021 to reduce waste and debris discharged into the sea.
Thailand had been ranked sixth among the world's top countriesthat dump waste into the sea, Minister of Natural Resources and EnvironmentVarawut Silpa-Archa said, noting that during the past five months, the countrywas down to the 10th position thanks to such joint efforts.
Last year, the country reduced the use of plastic bags by 2billion, or about nearly 5,800 tonnes of plastic waste during the first phaseof the campaign to encourage consumers’ voluntarily refusal of plastic bagsfrom stores.
Varawut said the most challenging aspect would be the last 40 percentof plastic bags used at fresh markets and in rural areas./.
VNA
