Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

Thailand

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2021/09/06

Policy framework

National Action Plan

Remark:
Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management plan 2018-20 has cover part prevention on sea-based source of marine debris, however, the recommendation on (draft) National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris is in the developing process and plan to merge with Phase II of the mention Roadmap’s goals.

Legal framework

Name:
Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535, 2563

Brief description:
to enhance and conservation of environmental quality which covers multistakeholder engagement and supports knowledge.

Remark:
this Act is covering all pollution, including hazardous waste, solid waste, garbage etc

Indicators

Plastic waste:
selected type of plastic will be totally banded within 2022 and replaced by eco-friendly material for production

50% of target plastic type will recycle with 2022

Marine debris:
the number of marine debris have been collected from marine ecosystem each year

Remark:
time frame for implementation and type of target plastics

Remark:

It is including in preventing and reducing marine litter from sea-based sources under Plastic Waste Management Plan which Pollution Control Department is the main operator

Measures

Measures

Achievements

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Names of actions:
Every day say No to plastic bag campaign

Targeted products:
reduce single-use plastic bag

Brief description:
stop providing single-use plastic bag in shopping mall and department store (Voluntary action), some store will charge for plastic bag request

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design

Names of actions:
Plastic circular economy model development for community and provinces

Brief description:
to apply circular economy model in pilot sites (eastern part of Thailand: Rayong)

Remark:
Pollution Control Department is the main driver and operate the activities

 Comments:
conduct several meeting to introduce the project and will sign MOU with the Provincial Administration Organization soon

Regulation on microplastics

Names of actions:
ban using microbead in products

Remark:
Other government organization take responsibility in this matter. It is including in Plastic Management Plan B.E. 2561-2573

  

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system
Remark:
other organization in Thailand take responsibility in this matters		  

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping, and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Names of actions:
prevention of floating littering leakage to the sea by using garbage boom and litter traps

Brief description:
to set up several litter buoy, garbage-collecting boat and litter trap (SGC-DMCR litter trap) along main river and mangrove creek)

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Names of actions:
Beach clean up

Brief description:
promoting and raising public awareness to reduce leakage waste particularly plastic waste along the beach

Several times/years

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Removal of plastic litter from the ocean

Names of actions:
Underwater marine debris collecting

Brief description:
conduct underwater marine debris collecting event at diving spot

  

Measures

Achievements

Promotion of innovative solutions

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’)

Names of actions:
it is under the roadmap of plastic waste management 2018-2030

Brief description:
encourage and collaborate with private sector to produce biodegradable utensils, eco-design containers etc

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Names of actions:
GC Circular living Platform/ Shaping waste-free future by INSEE and Nestle partnership /SCG circular way

Brief description:
Private sector apply value chain to plastic container of the products by recycle to be material for fabric factory, to build road etc

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

Set up the Waste Bank and zero-waste school at school and local community and encouraging students, local communities to segregate waste to earn extra income

Remark:
Other government organization take responsible in this matter

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Names of actions:
International Beach Clean-up Day

Brief description:
in September Dept. of Marine and Coastal Resources held the beach clean-up activity

Local level:

Names of actions:
Beach and water outlet clean-up

Brief description:
beach clean-up and water outlet waste collecting campaign on special events

International / Regional level:

Names of actions:
Collaboration among ASEAN Member States to combat marine debris

Brief description:
ASEAN Regional Action Plan for combating marine debris in the ASEAN Member States aims to enhance coordination for achieving sustainable management of coastal and marine environments through responding to the marine plastic pollution

National level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Local level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Measures

Achievements

Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter

Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions:
Monitoring on microplastics in surface seawater

Brief description:
to conduct survey and monitor the microplastic in surface seawater in Thai waters.

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics

Names of actions: share methodologies, knowledge during participate international and regional meeting

Sharing data, methodologies and experience among ASEAN member States, participated countries

 We see a positive improvement from last two years

Challenges

  • Recycling system improvement
  • Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)
  • Data collection related to waste in general
  • Data collection related to marine plastic litter
  • Lack of awareness among citizens, business, local governments
  • Lack of financial incentives for waste treatment in general
  • Lack of financial incentives for technology development

Best practices

National level

Reduce single-use plastic campaign “Say no to plastic bag”

This national campaign has been raised in 1 January 2020, the ministry of natural resources and environment collaborate with more than 70 wholesalers in Thailand to stop providing plastic shopping bag to customers for free. Thailand expects to reduce at least 13,000 bags per year.

This campaign aims to change people’s behaviors to reduce using plastic bags and/or use more eco-friendly bag.

Local level

Introduce and apply circular economy for waste management at pilot sites:

Rayong province

The PTTGC (Petroleum company) collaborates with the governments, private sectors, and communities,

  • help to manage the issue with waste and promote the use of plastics sustainably according to the Circular Economy concept. GC strives to reduce the volume of plastic wastes with the use of biodegradable plastics which is environmentally friendly promotes the development of plastic products which can be reused multiple times to replace single-use plastics, transform plastic wastes into new products.
  • implemented the Zero Waste to Landfill Projects in order to maximize the concept of reducing waste generated at source.

Private sector

As supporter for the local level’s activities and practice:

Zero-waste companies: The campaign is initiated by the business sector located nearby each other, to apply zero-waste campaign in their company.

  • Promoting and encouraging employees to separate waste in the office, e.g. separating plastic, glass, and paper waste for recycling and separating food waste to be used as animal feed by the surrounding community, etc.

Closing the loop:
PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, or GC and Suranaree University of Technology teamed up to conduct a project study of a closed loop plastic waste management system from source to destination. This project study aims to add value to various types of contaminated plastic waste through chemical recycling to transform contaminated waste into fuel or feedstocks used in the chemicals industry.

GC, through our group subsidiaries, will assist the university in promoting the project’s expansion nationwide. GC also co-researched and provided financial support to test the transformation of contaminated waste into fuel and feedstocks used in the industry, providing another effective way to add value to various types of contaminated plastic waste

Remark:
Suranaree University is one of the lead university, located in the northeastern part of Thailand.

International cooperation

Collaborate with ASEAN member states to combat marine debris

Participate with international organization to conduct marine litter management programme

Further information

Contact details

Ms.Vararin Vongpanich, e-mail: khunvara@yahoo.com

Remark:
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources’ mission.

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