Campaign to reduce plastic waste launched

PHUKET CITY: In possibly Phuket’s first unilateral move to reduce the volume of trash created each day on the island, the leaders of all 19 local administration organizations on Phuket – as well as representatives of 23 businesses, shops, department stores and resorts on the island – signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at The Metropole hotel on July 9.

The MOU aims to have the signatories actively take part in efforts to reduce the amount of plastic waste on the island, such as used plastic shopping bags and items containing plastic used by resorts.

Leading the signing ceremony was Pireeyutma Vanapruk, President the Development of Environment and Energy Foundation (DEE).

Also signing the MOU were Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Paiboon Upatising, Deputy Chief of Patong Municipality Supat Ratanasmahan and Prad Tinnasulanont from CP All Co the Phuket representative of 7-Eleven stores.

Khun Pireeyutma explained that Phuket’s waste problem had reached crisis point, with about 550 tonnes of trash – much of it plastic – being sent to the incinerator at Sapan Hin each day.

He added that the incinerator can dispose of only about 250 tonnes of trash a day.

“This campaign will include assistance from Patong hotels and department stores in Karon and Cherng Talay, while 7-Eleven customers will be asked first if they want a bag for their groceries,” he said.

“Kata Thani Phuket Beach Resort Hotel has been appointed as a representative of hotels in Phuket as the resort already has a good waste-management system to reduce many kinds of waste, including plastic bags,” K. Pireeyutma added.