Phuket stop giving away free plastic bags

New Government program to stop major retailers from giving away free plastic bags. 'Keep Phuket clean' Organizers prepare for final two cleanups in 2009

Phuket, Thailand: Keep Phuket Clean – a grass roots community clean-up program created by the Summer in Phuket campaign received a major boost by the Government who are initiating a 2 baht per plastic shopping bag charge for all major retailers in Phuket including Central, Jungceylon, Big C, Tesco Lotus etc starting on Dec 5th.

There will be a major campaign launch with the Governor of Phuket on Dec 4th at CENTRAL where over 500 people will celebrate this important shift in policy strategy that will aim to reduce plastic bag usage by 50% within the first twelve months.

Plastic bags in Phuket are a major component of todays throw away society, and are emblematic of a garbage crisis in Phuket. Each and every day Phuket generates around 500 tonnes of garbage, with around half incinerated and half going to landfill. With a new incinerator two years away, and forecasts of up to 1,000 tonnes per day by 2015 it is critical that Phuket embraces a change in attitude towards waste, and this change is fully supported by local government, retailers and consumers.

About 70% of Phukets tourists come from countries that have implemented a plastic bag reduction strategy and will be viewed internationally as a positive move. Plastic bags clog drains causing flooding, catch water when loose in the environment and breed mosquitos, increasing Dengue and Chikungunya disease. Plastic bags in the water are eaten by marine life such as dolphins and turtles rapidly diminishing what few marine animals are left in the Phuket area and polluting our tourism destinations such as Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay.

Organizers of the next island-wide Keep Phuket Clean effort is scheduled for Thursday, November 5th 2009 and again, with the Governors support, massive pre high season Island Wide “Big Cleanup Day” on Friday December 4th 2009.

The Keep Phuket Clean community outreach program’s goal – using education and private sector support – is to make the Phuket residents, hotels, small businesses and tourists more aware of the island’s fragile eco-system and the impact that we have on its flora, fauna and surrounding waters and marine reserves. Also, as part of the Summer in Phuket campaign, the Keep Phuket Clean program provides an opportunity to spread positive messages about Phuket to the world.

For further details about Summer in Phuket visit www.summerinphuket.com

Resource : summerinphuket.com

November 10, 2009