Thailand’s ranking among the 20 biggest international contributors to marine plastic waste has improved by four places from sixth to tenth, thanks to the government’s initiatives and the voluntary efforts of the private sector and the public in cutting back on the use of single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.

Mr. Chatuporn Burutpat, permanent secretary for natural resources and environment, said today (Friday) that the improvement shows that everyone’s joint efforts are producing positive results.

About 50 members of the private sector, including shopping malls and department stores, have stopped giving out single-use plastic bags, with some turning to paper bags.  Campaigns have also been launched to urge shoppers to take their own cloth bags when they go shopping.

The top 20 countries, ranked by Mass of Mismanaged Plastic Waste in 2018, had China at the top (worst), followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, South Africa, India, Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan, Brazil, Myanmar, Morocco North Korea and the United States.