BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) – The Department of Health bans single-use plastics in its offices nationwide after it learned that its personnel in Bangkok and provinces used 18 million pieces of plastics each year.
Director-General of the Health Department, Phanpimol Wipulakorn said that on the occasion of the 67th anniversary of the department establishment, the department imposed a ban on single-use plastics in the agency’s offices to reduce plastic garbage.
According to a survey on the plastic use of health department’s officials last year, each person used 14 pieces of plastics per day or 18 million pieces each year.
Non-biodegradable garbage included four million plastic bags and two million plastic containers, given by shops, convenient stores and markets at the department offices.
Catering service at meetings produced 93,000 pieces of plastic waste such as plastic bottles, straws, food boxes, spoons and forks each year.
Earlier, it also banned Styrofoam containers at its canteens and implemented other measures to reduce plastic waste.
Compostable & biodegradable containers were used to serve food and drinks for participants at meetings.
Shops and restaurants stopped giving plastic bags on Wednesdays. Customers, who carry their personal food and drink containers, are given discounts. (TNA)
