Time to ditch plastic excuses and save the seas

Time to ditch plastic excuses and save the seas

Many one-time use plastic bags are seen in a pile of rubbish dumped on a road in the capital. PATIPAT JANTHONG
Many one-time use plastic bags are seen in a pile of rubbish dumped on a road in the capital. PATIPAT JANTHONG

For years now it has been a habit of mine to pocket a few used (but clean) plastic bags before heading to the market.

I remember at first I would often get a funny look as I handed one of these to the person at the register. They couldn't fathom why I was handing them a bag (surely it should be other way round?) before it dawned on them I wanted to save plastic -- and maybe the world.

"Fighting global warming, eh?" they would remark. "That's nice."

I would mumble something in agreement before telling them my real goal was not to create more garbage.

These episodes tell me that most people are aware of, or at least have heard about, global warming. They know it is not a good thing. However, I wonder if they realise the role they play in it, or understand how plastic bags contribute to the heating-up of the planet.

At least I hope they know they have contributed to the rising mountains of waste.

Waste is a problem of global scale. In every country, waste management is a constant challenge. Only a few countries are able to claim success in this area.

Countries use various strategies to tackle the problem. A handful respond aggressively as the situation becomes critical, either by imposing levies on plastic bags or even by banning them outright. Some take the more amenable route of recycling, reusing, and recovering waste.

Thailand is one of a large number of countries that talk the talk but never walk the walk.

Unfortunately, you cannot simply wish the problem to go away. The longer you ignore it, the more critical it becomes.

We all know that garbage is accumulating at a concerning rate in our seas. Plastic bags are a major cause, inflicting suffering and death among marine life that mistakes the bags for food.

But that's not as bad as when plastic debris that has been exposed to the elements for a long enough time is broken down into tiny particles.

These suspended plastic particles, or microplastics, are eventually ingested by zooplankton, which is then by fish and marine life higher up the food chain before being passed into the digestive tracts of humans.

Some people may think this process occurs far out in the deep blue sea. But that would constitute a misunderstanding. It can also happen in shallow water, affecting species living close to the shore.

Those of us who are fond of eating snails, clams, shrimps or crabs are equally at risk of ingesting microplastics.

A new study in Thailand published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin warns that shellfish in the eastern coast have been contaminated by this scourge.

The study, which goes by the name "Effects of microplastics on sessile invertebrates on the eastern coast of Thailand: An approach to coastal zone conservation", looks at how microplastics have contaminated rock oysters, striped barnacles and periwinkles at three beaches in Chon Buri, namely, Ang Sila, Bang Saen and Samae San.

The researchers from Sri Lanka and Thailand found that most specimens were contaminated with such particles, with Ang Sila registering the highest levels.

Plastic bags are not the only culprit. Fishing gear such as ropes and nets, often discarded by fishermen at sea, also contributes to the contamination.

Suchana Chavanich, a marine scientist from Chulalongkorn University's Reef Biology Research Group and a co-author of the study, said it suggests other coastal areas that see heavy human activity are likely to be similarly contaminated.

"Health risks are possible when people consume these contaminated marine organisms, particularly shellfish," the study concludes.

It is clear that many seafood lovers have been exposed unknowingly to health risks including, but not limited to, cancer.

The latest findings provide another powerful reason why we should do something about plastic waste -- in a hurry.

An increasing number of countries have come to the same realisation. As my colleague, Ploenpote Atthakor, wrote in her column on Wednesday, Kenya has just become the latest country to deal a blow to single-use plastic bags by banning their use, manufacture and importation.

It will take a while for Kenyans to get used to the new rules, which carry heavy fines and jail terms.

Meanwhile, Kenya's western neighbour Rwanda has raced ahead. In 2004 it started prohibiting shops from giving away plastic bags to customers. Four years later, it completely banned them from markets.

Its initiatives have earned it a reputation for being one of the cleanest nations in the world.

Many Asian countries have introduced measures to limit the volume of plastic used commercially. Bangladesh imposed a strict ban on plastic bags since 2002.

China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Taiwan have also imposed restrictions on the distribution of plastic bags.

There is no reason why Thailand should not introduce initiatives of its own to limit or even ban the use and distribution of thin single-use bags.

I know the usual arguments against having to carry your own bags on shopping trips -- it is inconvenient, etc. But such arguments show a lack of consideration for the environment.

Take bulk supplier Makro as a case in point: It has not given out plastic bags to shoppers and it has not gone under.

Those who patronise Palang Bun, a small market run by the Buddhist group Santi Asok, know to bring bags with them. They don't seem to mind.

I would be happy to settle for a levy on plastic bags instead of a complete ban. One step at a time is fine by me.


Wasant Techawongtham is a former news editor, Bangkok Post.

Wasant Techawongtham

Freelance Reporter

Freelance Reporter and Managing Editor of Milky Way Press.

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