The Cabinet on November 12, 2019 approved the campaign for a ban on single-use plastic bags in supermarkets, convenience stores, and shopping malls, starting from January 1, 2020 onwards.

The campaign is in line with the Roadmap on the Plastic Waste Management, 2018-2030, aimed at tackling the plastic waste problem in Thailand.

The Cabinet assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Interior, and the Government Public Relations Department to work with the private sector in conducting the campaign to raise the awareness of consumers and entrepreneurs about the ban on single-use plastic bags. The ban will take effect in 2021.

The campaign will be heightened during the four-month period before plastic bags are banned in Bangkok and the 76 other provinces. It is expected to reduce the use of plastic bags significantly.

As a result, the reduction will lead to a drop of 225,000 tons of garbage to be disposed of each year. Public organizations will also be able to save 340 million baht per year on waste management.

The Pollution Control Department is accelerating the introduction of a law on plastic waste management to be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.

A road show will be carried out in the four regions of the country to gather information for use in working out the law on plastic waste management.