Thailand Is Tired of Recycling Your Trash

The plastic industry says recycling is the solution to reducing waste. But in Thailand, where much of the world’s trash ends up, it’s created a new set of problems.
Read the story: www.bloomberg....
#Thailand #Storylines #Bloomberg
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[@monkeybusiness2204]

This is happening to many South East Asian countries. There were similar reports of countless rubbish filled containers left stranded at ports in Malaysia and Philippines.

[@annng8718]

Agree! count Vietnam in!

[@staypeace5955]

Don't forget Indonesia.

[@marxagarden]

We need a ban on plastic waste exporting globally. In this way developed countries would be forced to deal with the external costs that we push onto other countries. If we are unable to deal with these costs in a way that is suitable for our laws then limitations on producing plastics in excessive quantities should be put in place. We must bear the costs of our environmental impact locally.

[@nunyanunya4147]

*posted from an iphone... no irony was spared in this lack ov understanding*

[@MrRussian187]

who cares when they just drop all waste in rivers in Africa or Indonesia or India

[@dontcare7086]

We are already burying most our plastic in America. Once China banned imports of it we started burning and burying it. Something like 90% of the recycling we put in our blue bins goes in a landfill. Recycling is the biggest lie of the century. The recycle symbol means nothing. There's no profit in recycling the stuff we put out so they put it in landfills. There's documentaries that explain American recycling in detail.

[@AsinT.]

@@nunyanunya4147and?

[@xyeB]

Yes!

[@JJs_playground]

Thailand and other Southern East nations should stop accepting any and all plastic waste / scraps. Let the rich / developed countries deal with their waste. Do a video about *"flash graphene"* which uses plastic as its feedstock to create graphene which is used for EV batteries.

[@kmow7772]

Stop accepting abroad dump is quite a far goal. Considered, we resently got a big news about polices try to cover-up a illigal trash station, own by MP's pensioner, feeding on lobby trashing from Big shopping mall. And some could say. Another point is, why won't they just "Don't do", some can argue that while it is polluted, it is not as 'Black' as others. PS. on other hand, I heard there are foriegn company comes and to it 'the right way'which is wonderful. But I think that the proportion is still vast, maybe you could get rich from this

[@danarzechula3769]

What usually happens is bad things are located in poor areas rather than anything getting fixed

[@CausticLemons7]

I think the bottlers should be responsible for cleaning up their mess, and all the companies that benefit from the waste should help pay for it.

[@askbetterquestions1448]

recyclers provide the service, the producers should pay. Typically the product producer has the highest profit and the least amount of responsibility. Think about beverages, the one making the bottle has very small margins per unit, it s the bottler (they put the product in and market it that have the highest profit from selling the product. They also have the most control over how it is marketed and distributed. They should be paying the recyclers to collect and recycle all the materials not just the valuable materials

[@stormyboy129]

Here's an idea: stop putting everything in plastic. The amount of plastic layers when I buy something in the store or online is ridiculous and completely unnecessary. They should just use something biodegradable even if it's a bit more expensive.

[@JonathanAlmgren]

This is true but a lot of people complain about not having plastic for instance plastic shopping bags, straws and many others, it is the most convenient option and not to mention the cheapest, if most companies shift away from plastic costs will rise and guess what people will complain about that too.

[@stormyboy129]

@@JonathanAlmgren Then let the people complain. I believe the environmemt is more important than people's convenience. Don't like paper straws? Then get used to it (why do adults even need a straw?). We're all bitching about the environment but we're not even prepared to give up a little comfort. And I'm not just talking about the people but also the government and mega corporations -- they all care more about money than the environmen.

[@sandraalegria3439]

I agree we need to change the way things are packed .

[@danarzechula3769]

@@JonathanAlmgren and we call other mammals dumb animals

[@alanmay7929]

The problem isn’t the plastic itself but it’s the different types of plastics that have to be very well separated for ray recycling, that’s the issue.

[@ruilinyin3460]

Remember China refused to deal with other countries’ waste plastic years ago

[@Nedwin]

These plants are really realizing the concept of circular economy. PET, PP, and BPA based waste is serious problem. In the future, everyone must support the SDGs and waste problems. Nice review btw. Big hug from Indonesia. 🙏

[@shiytp]

It is likely that the plastic industry's emphasis on recycling as a solution to reducing waste has not been effective in Thailand, and has instead created additional problems. This is a common problem with relying solely on recycling as a means of addressing waste and environmental pollution. Recycling can play a role in reducing the amount of waste that is generated, but it is not a complete solution. In order to truly address the problem of plastic waste, we need to focus on reducing the amount of plastic we use in the first place, through measures such as using fewer single-use plastic items and increasing the use of biodegradable and compostable materials.

[@chinguunerdenebadrakh7022]

As the popular saying goes, "Reduce, reuse, recycle" in that order.

[@Rev8]

The consumers aren't to blame here. How am I supposed to buy clean water without the plastic? It's nearly impossible to find in Thailand.

[@inesdamonteines3985]

One single use water bottle...toys that don't last a week.... liquid soap in plastic bottle (as if solid bars were not lighter and cheaper). So much useless plastic items!!!

[@chinguunerdenebadrakh7022]

@@Rev8 get a water filter. Either one that fits onto the sink faucet or a Brita style filter pitcher that is a small water canister with a filter. In my area, the pitcher system costs 40$ to buy and 6$ for the filter (which you replace every 3 months). That's pretty cheap, much cheaper than bottled water everyday.

[@MrRussian187]

who cares when they just drop all waste in rivers in Africa or Indonesia or India

[@tomdomagalski3679]

Why do you let recycling plants be opened right next to people's homes? Like most factories they will produce fumes

[@BillOweninOttawa]

Profits. Money. Capitalism.

[@burgerjointgame]

I feel so sorry for that accountant who bought a lovely home and then had to leave but hopefully the company's new upgraded equipment solves the issue/problem. There's a charity/organization in Bangkok called Precious Plastics that collects just the tops from plastic bottles (not the bottles) melts them down and turns them into plastic objects and art but it's not nearly enough to deal with the amount of waste that's generated on a daily basis.

[@askbetterquestions1448]

This doesn't even deal with .001 % of the problem, to fix recycling infrastructure, we need large scale profitable and effective solutions.

[@sleverlight]

You actually believed that the company will have better infrastracture? at 10:00 what was written was a lie to make the complany reputation better

[@Ai-kichona]

A country should force no water botttles at all. And make you buy reusable and to buy from a convenient store you must have your reusable bottle to refill ... if that makes sense

[@Ai-kichona]

@RainmaN i think one country is pushing towards no plastic. But your right

[@danarzechula3769]

Hey we used to get our pickles from barrels and our grains also scooped out of communal stores. Nobody died from that

[@danarzechula3769]

@@RainmaN215 I thought the same about tobacco advertising etc but enough people just saying no changed that a lot

[@therock8224]

@@Ai-kichona Until recently they banned you from bringing your own plastic cup or bottle due to unfounded fear of Covid. Thais are among the most brainwashed in the world when it comes to Covid. In Cambodia, mask wearing is down to 5%, but in neighboring Thailand it's as high as 99% even outdoors in some areas. A totally indoctrinated society that has been absolutely destroyed by its dictatorial military regime. Even the prime minister is so afraid of Covid, he is rarely seen without a mask.

[@zerg_burger]

Yeah well its one of the hottest places in the world here

[@ropro9817]

Here's a solution: Send it all back to the manufacturers of plastics. They're the ones who have been lying to us telling us that it's recyclable.

[@Sanyu-Tumusiime]

what NO. GET IT OUT OF MY COUNTRY

[@noirto2]

depend how far back up the chain you are planning to go, you plan to go back all the way to oil producer that the plastic are made of?

[@davidcantor293]

@@Sanyu-Tumusiime Then stop using it lol.

[@MHKing03]

YES! The only way this gets solved is if we force the producers to take responsibility for the problems they cause.

[@pjacobsen1000]

Why is it the producers rather than the consumers who should deal with the waste problem?

[@SiameseCheese]

In Thailand, we used to wrap takeaway food in wax paper and rubber bands. It was all biodegradable. Now its mainly plastic containers. We had the green solution for decades, we just need to go back to it.

[@gwynsolstice4488]

Born and Raised in Thailand and this is like the second time I've heard of this. There is so so little media coverage about this topic.

[@MrB10N1CLE]

@@caseyschryber1255 Fake how?

[@umeshy]

Bloomberg should ask questions to USA and UK administration to stop sending trash in south Asia.

[@powerstroke6.7]

South Asia should stop receiving trash… rich people in South Asia are allowing this to happen. It’s not a problem caused by USA UK Japan.

[@Founderschannel123]

@@powerstroke6.7 those rich people who own companies also help with south asian economies tho so its kinda bad unless they turn trash to something valuable

[@powerstroke6.7]

@@Founderschannel123 I hear ya, I’m just pointing out these”journalists” have an agenda. They blame everything on the “rich” countries but take no issue with the people buying that plastic trash.

[@theotheleo6830]

@@powerstroke6.7 They're fraudulently labeling and exporting their trash as plastic scraps.

[@powerstroke6.7]

@@theotheleo6830 fool me once it’s on you, fool me twice it’s on me…. I’m not saying the sellers are angels by any means, but the story focuses on “rich” countries only and put zero responsibility on the buyers. You can’t tell me that all that waste was mislabeled..

[@computerconcepts3352]

As a Thai citizen, I'm tired of having to clean up the beach and hate the current poor plastic disposal practices as well. However, I don't think banning recycling is the solution. I think something like AI could really help optimize certain plastic production and recycling process to reduce toxic fumes and unnecessary wastes.

[@tejasmane7672]

How AI can help in this matter?

[@Coop____]

yes AI solves everything.. smart

[@UnratedAce]

@@Coop____ To track how much single-use plastic is used per person and regulate how much a person is able to waste in the future. AI can help us process collected data about how much we waste and give us options to reduce our waste.

[@computerconcepts3352]

@@tejasmane7672 It depends on what's feasible at the time. Right now there's already computer vision AI technologies that helps classify and sort recyclable waste from none recyclable ones. This allows for recyclable materials that are mixed in with non-recyclable ones to still be recyclable. Future AI applications could potentially include but not limited to AI that generates new methods of recycling, AI that helps find new materials that can more easily be recyclable, AI that could find the most ideal location for recycling that minimizes human contact, shipping distances, etc.

[@blackumbrella6199]

But you're not tired of walking into a 7-11 store every day to buy stuff wrapped in plastic, aren't you?

[@Fledermausmann]

This is why I never believe a country when they say , "oh we're a global leader in recycling" or we recycle X and Y % of our trash", no you don't.. you just ship it off to Thailand/Malaysia/Indonesia or wherever and then congratulate yourself on a job well done. Meanwhile, that other country suffers.

[@derpinbird1180]

Big issue with plastic is that it needs to be one type of plastic. Even then only some can be recycled. Most packaging is in fact a series of layers of different plastics which makes recycling impossible with current tech.

[@danarzechula3769]

Heart breaking for poor family having to leave their home

[@vsstdtbs3705]

Many pigeon families lose their lives because of the overpopulated human pest.

[@tforever5700]

he is not that poor he can wear gold necklace and able to move to a new house in bankok which is the real estate not cheap

[@ShhhHhhhz]

they forgot to mention the tipping fee, those companies operating in thailand got paid too by those rich countries. im pretty sure the gov can stop it like what China did, ban imports of waste but why don't they?

[@jonathanodude6660]

companies can lobby in private capitalist countries. in state capitalist countries like china, these businesses operate only under the guidelines of the CCP, and its not possible for rich people or powerful corporations to demand things from the government. theres a reason why oil producing countries have ultra rich areas and ultra poor areas.

[@ainzooalgown7589]

Thailand has plenty of NGOs that are for importing waste because they are all backed by USA, NED National endowment for democracy and George Soros Open Society Foundation, these 2 US sponsors will use every penny they get to make Thailand and poor countries keep importing waste because the more polluted and poor they are kept, the better they can exploit them.

[@therock8224]

Because it's Thailand, a country who's main goal is "face" to make sure they please others and for whom money is the most important thing in the world. China can ban imports of waste, Thailand can't. It's a different mentality. Just like how Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese are able to remove their masks on their own accord, while Thais keep wearing them despite being allowed to take them off.

[@est9949]

The irony is at 6:06 you see the plant name written in Chinese.

[@JadetZXC]

I'm living in Thailand and had thought of safe procedures to recycle with low cost. My project didn't get launched because it's still being out competed by illegal practices of existing companies. I was frustrating. The professor my team talked to even said "The authorities won't allow us to make something with real use, if we're competing with their cheating partners." Well, the only way to fix it is to get the authoritative status ourselves, which is next to impossible.

[@kryptokrypto702]

Part of the problem with plastics is that they are not all made the same, which seriously messes with the "recyclability" of said plastics. If plastics aren't going away, they need to be standardized. But we definitely need to fix this issue as a human species. It's not just any one single country, it's everyone, everywhere.

[@dsloop3907]

I have some plastic "posts" that were made as test pieces. They failed at what their intended purpose was, but they make great tire stops in the carport.

[@wtfface.8790]

Ban single use plastics.

[@wade5941]

It is curious that such a move has not taken place.

[@barracudastocks]

As a Samut Prakarn resident who grew up in Chonburi, this toxic issue really hits homes. I am grateful for the effort of the Bloomberg journalist who visited on site and engaged with various local parties. We should have had better technology to deal with plastic recycling (ones which are less toxic to local residents). We would appreciate further study on the plastic waste import/export industry on your next coverage. 🙏

[@CebiGreen]

Burning plastic is one of the reasons why Thailand’s air is so polluted. Sad.

[@tforever5700]

As Thai citizen the government keep import those waste and recycling meanwhile in our country ,the government doesn't care much about the waste we generate ,mixed trash no pre-seperation ,the law is very weak even people can throw things away easily and cause a plugged drainage ,ruin the river thailand have very low recycling bin through out the entire country maybe you be able to count it.

[@somerandomfella]

Packaging companies & countries should be responsible for their own waste.

[@Treehouse0fHorror]

Great reporting. I can’t quite wrap my head around the energy expenditure or economics of shipping a container full of plastic halfway around the globe to be recycled. Would like to see a comparison of energy/cost usage for different scenarios, including recycling versus incineration of recyclables/waste once used.

[@arnowisp6244]

You can thank currency differences making it cheaper to ship abroad than to do it at home.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

@@arnowisp6244 You can blame the Thai businessmen who import this waste for profit.

[@4535G]

My thought is these companies 'won' contracts for recycling plastic waste in rich countries. They supposed to recycle these waste in other countries where operating costs are cheaper but these recycling facilities do not exist in reality. Instead, they simply dump these wasted and earn the money.

[@askbetterquestions1448]

It's a complex problem. Developed nations have high labour costs and stronger restrictions on how waste is managed. Lesser developed nations have lower standards and labour costs. At the end of the dayeach of us are responsible. It doesn't matter what we think or say, it's what we do that matters. Everytime we go shopping we vote with our dollars. When we buy single use products, we are we are sending a message to companies that this is okay. Maybe we put it in a recycling bin, and think it ends there. It doesn't, many countries that claim high sustainability rates are just sending it to less developed countries and there is little or no tracking once it leaves. It's not only plastics, its our clothes, our food, etc. For example, we can buy blueberries for a few dollars in the winter because of low wages in Mexico. Who is paying the real cost of growing and shipping all these various products around the world? Unfortunately it's often the poor and the environment

[@est9949]

​@@nobodyspecial4702 it's actually the government. As for the business people profiting from the plants, well, look 6:06 you see the plant name written in Chinese. Basically the government is selling our country to Chinese business people and this is a repeated pattern in many industries here, not just recycling--farming, real estate, you name it.

[@edwinbrace4681]

Great reporting ! Thank you

[@nextinstitute7824]

Thank you for this video! I didn't know this. Has to stop!

[@TheROCKITEXPERIENCE]

I have traveled all over Thailand and most hotels now use glass bottles or cans for water.

[@blueskull1119]

This is what people mean when they say western hypocrisy

[@nobodyspecial4702]

As opposed to blaming the Thais for buying this plastic from the West. Now, that's some serious hypocrisy there.

[@JayceeR]

I'm very disappointed that the Thai government didn't follow suit with what my country (the Philippines) did with the Canadian rubbish back in 2016? 2017? (I can't remember it well). If I remember correctly, both Malaysia and Indonesia followed suit at that time.

[@macilysis]

We can't force everyone in the world to stop using plastic and export to others. Here is my idea. Force them to use only one or two type of plastics which can be easy to deal with for all plastic containers. In this way, no mater which country it ends up with, it will be sorted and recycled easily. This isn't the best way but it is the most practical way. Consider it as a first step.

[@FishNChips-kq3hk]

We honestly only would ever succeed if we made people do things as they are told

[@mzhlop4623]

In Indonesia, there is a big smuggling of waste from EU. They mix waste with legal imported goods in one container. So sometime the waste is not imprted.

[@ikazezaki]

there should be a legal structure to stop waste from being exported to other country.. Please do a documentary on Sinagpore too if you will or can and explore this statement: 61% of Singapore’s waste is recycled while the remaining 39% are incinerated and sent directly to landfills.

[@Sagittarius-A-Star]

" ... the noise and fumes ... " are ubiquitous and completely normal in Thailand, the imported plastic waste makes no difference at all. On contrary - they can make money with it since they not really have anything except tourism and some agricultural products.

[@iamme8429]

I'm from Southeast Asia, there are lots of fish polluted with plastic

[@shubashuba9209]

I don't understand. Are we forcing Thailand to take our trash? Aren't they buying it from us because someone over there sees value in processing it? Why do they make it sound like we are dumping trash in their country at gunpoint? China has already started restricting the importation of trash, why can't Thailand just do the same thing?

[@leegeez3856]

You're right their government does but it. Thai government won't say it because it makes them look bad

[@henrycarlson7514]

So Wise , Thank You . WE NEED a better way to recycle

[@danarzechula3769]

Stop bailing out the boat and plug the leak. Lowered production less plastic made

[@Federico84]

Recycling should mean produce new stuff from old stuff instead of getting more oil.

[@rongeorge574]

This seems to be more of a zoning & emissions issue more then anything. Why would any government allow a waste operation to operate 5 feet from a house? Recycling plants should only be in far off zoned places at least a mile from any residences

[@quippy8402]

Sending trash out of any country should be internationally banned.

[@Xtianu]

The only solution to stip plastic waste is to stop buying products that use plastic as containers.

[@user-jw1lm7cl8d]

Recycling has always been a lie....you didn't need to travel outside your own country to realize that. I live in the Midwest. As a worker in the trades I have seen first hand the recycling trucks dumping their stuff in the exact same place as the dump trucks.....less than one percent is ever recycled and the recycling plants always create more waste than usable products. Anyone...that has ever realistically looked at this...knows this. These recycling plants exist simply as another route for politicians to launder money.

[@user-jw1lm7cl8d]

And for idiots that like to believe they are saving the planet....this planet could get rid of us anytime it wants to.

[@FishNChips-kq3hk]

Yes, for me it's obvious just by looking at the bin.

[@jebbo-c1l]

Reduce, reuse, then recycle. The first focus has to be to dramatically reduce our plasric consumption.

[@vsstdtbs3705]

Your right, and the only way to do that is reduce population

[@stevewilson4718]

@vsstdtbs3705 Consumption rate of US is astronomically high, even a nation with billion cannot meet their consumption

[@Jut_tc]

Facts! Facts ! Facts !

[@itsraj244]

People needs to start boggling where will the wastages of your products will go when you use and minimise use of plastic as much as you can .

[@ApplePotato]

Recycling in west clearly has not worked. Most curbside recycling programs mix all sorts of plastic together, which than require a huge amount of labour to re-sort them. Governments should enacts laws restricting the different type of plastic that could be used in consumer products. For example all bottle can only be plastic A and all packing can only be plastic B. This should lower the cost of recycling so it does not need to be shipped to third world countries. We can also demand that any new plastic produce be at least 70% to 80% recycled plastic. This will provide a market for the recycled plastic and force manufacturer to choose thermoplastic that can be in theory reused forever.

[@biometal770]

The source of the problem is plastic production. Prior to the 60s/70s, plastic packaging did not exist, and thus was not a problem. We need to go back to that way of living, or get as close as possible. A viable way to recycle plastic does not exist.

[@AgathaLOutahere]

Too much of the garbage is ending up in the Chao Phraya River.

[@raquetdude]

Residential next to industrial will always be bad. That should never occur in any nation it’s an issue with the local city government.

[@jaydibernardo4320]

Thailand: No more plastic! Japan: Wait a sec here..

[@sekar9901]

Japan is the biggest plastic exporter. It's just the media barely reported it.

[@stevens1041]

Facts. At least in USA, I start to see many aluminum and cardboard water bottles. Japan puts everything into thick plastic bottles. Its wild. I just got back from Tokyo, couldn't believe it. They even put warm drinks in plastic!

[@Continentalmunkey88]

US dollar hegemony remains but waste processing changes

[@Joeeaw]

Hope that we can stop using any kinds of plastic soon 😢

[@joshyb2937]

What is stopping the crude oil refineries from doing the fractional distillation of plastic waste ?

[@nobodyspecial4702]

Costs.

[@101yayo]

Send it back lol

[@fkhdls]

Thailand wasn't forced at gun point to accept that waste. Someone got paid to allow it in. Who? That's the only question that matters. Follow the money.

[@ralfjr.]

Something similar is happening between West Europe and Est Europe

[@Eakph1]

How irony it is. So called “recycling waste” like plastic by an large gets shipped around the world and it is not hard to guess that the carbon reduction can be easily off set and carbon footprint may even be close to net positive. Sick in the stomach indeed.

[@NirvanaFan5000]

we really need to focus on developing compostable materials, bc we're always gonna have garbage and litter. if it can compost easily, that solves a lot of the problems

[@EYESMR]

Thailand can open a trash recycle market. Textiles can be produced to sofa polster.... It would be great if they can sell their trashes for recycling - to China for example.

[@surfboy344]

This video is incorrect. There are many countries that are converting plastic into energy through use of incinerator technology . It's a cheap source of energy. New York and Singapore have incinerator plants.

[@ciscosebanes]

Its how manufacturing works is the problem. Bottles be made back to glass. Packaging to paper or cartons.

[@sam-fc9ky]

shocking- but they could and should have said no: but greed has led them down this path

[@StephenRichmond89]

This seems very bad but I'm a little unclear why the bad guy here isn't the Thai government? Shouldn't they be stopping factory type facilities being set up next to people's homes? Or blocking/limiting imports?

[@thetaomega7816]

It is easier to blame the evil west than their own government

[@therock8224]

They should change their zoning laws for one. Having residential homes next to factories is totally 3rd world. Factories should be located in industrial zones and homes in residential only areas.

[@GoblinDigital]

This is true, I was there.

[@hunyango2k]

someone seated in the government of Taiwan just approved them to dump their wastes into their country, those wates are not just magically appear over there without an OK from a powerful government official. whoever that person is, he is now richer than before.

[@cubeeism]

Thank you Bloomberg for voicing our big issue.

[@pennyandian]

Globally 57kg per person per year of plastic is produced, which is only slightly less than the average body weight! Of course the actual value will be hugely more in developed countries.

[@kommok6786]

I see that majority are Coca Cola and Pepsi plastic bottles in the waste piles

[@rongeorge574]

How come no videos of them actually recycling the plastic into new plastic? All waste should just be burned and turned into energy. The amount of time wasted trying to recycle plastic is not worth the oil your saving.

[@aksbeixhev]

As a top tourist destination this sounds like really bad policy

[@Mao_tse_tung]

Not my trash i don’t recycle

[@wayned3375]

The things that can be done at the moment will reduce waste and alternative technologies are being developed they need to become the only options , Marathon runners recently used water capsules provided to them these could replace some no drinks bottle needs to be plastic there are cans that are more recyclable. So many things are now being washed wrapped in paper or cardboard this isn’t perfect but technology exists to make plastic like products that do break down and don’t take 500 years neither do they have chemical compounds fully biodegradable is one option and some plastic can be replaced with bamboo for bowls and plates. Tins and cans could also do with printing on directly with inks that also biodegrade so that chemicals aren’t in the air when they are recycled.

[@pjacobsen1000]

Re. Marathon runners: The times I have run in organized marathons water has always been provided in paper cups, not plastic bottles.

[@stupidwolf]

Incinerator near village + Air quality get bad ? Sound normal in Thailand😢😢 Being poor in this country is bad enough.

[@Jazzmaster71]

Recycling has and always be a part of maximizing resources. However Thailand takes the plastic because there are money in it. And the local politicians and recycle plant owners care less about their local environment. That guy sitting and blaiming the western countries for dumping their plastic to their country should be looking at his own people. Thai government can stop this import any time.. but as I said as long there is money to get out of this they will allow it.

[@JohnnyPeacenic]

Developed countries are not developed if they produce this much unnecessary waste

[@firstname__lastname]

It's unfortunate too cos, not having access to clean water means you're constantly buying water bottles or jugs.. especially in a place as hot as Thailand. Thailand needs to work on providing clean water to everyone. That would eliminate allot of single use plastics. I know this becos I use to live in Bangkok and I hated the fact that I constantly had to buy bottled water.

[@therock8224]

Yeah but I wouldn't trust the fluoridated and chlorinated tap water supply they provide in many parts of Australia, the United States and Canada. Even in those countries, I buy only bottled water and preferably water bottled in glass, since plastic bottles release tiny microplastics and endocrine inhibitors.

[@neohengong4358]

Or perhaps use it to make a big plastic umbrella that can cover the hot sun

[@Eric-cj2ew]

I mean have those companies lead the way put the pressure for them to figure out how to deal with this waste in and environmentally friendly way. Or they'll gradually be phased out there has to be way to recycle all of this stuff mother nature does it on her own so there has to be a way.

[@tikitiki7610]

why doesn't thailand refuse to accept these dumping activities?

[@togbeosagyefo8705]

Money

[@billrose2202]

This is because China stopped taking recycling. Countries need to take care of their own problems.

[@nuchzara97]

Curious why the shipment end at Thailand port...and couldnt find the original port...we also have our own trash...T T

[@superbhasard9369]

... plastic recycling is a business ... sending western plastic to Thailand is not contempt ... it's signed contracts ... if Thailand doesn't want to process plastics anymore, don't sign any more contract ...

[@RickySupriyadi]

6:54 the Government denies, they claim there are no waste import. but in reality?

[@johnnybgood3909]

They just throw it in their canals anyway

[@kinngrimm]

Aslong our companies are either freely or if need be forced to make products with recycling in mind and therefor would gurantee that every part of these products is easily recyclable, aslong it is all idle talk of us civilians being concerned about what is happening to our trash.

[@hreal8953]

We pay much for recycling 🤔 they send it away

[@TheBodiesInTheWaterBeckons]

This is happening all across ASEAN nations.

[@grjoe4412]

Anyone can find a problem. Why don't you go find a solution, earn your daily foods' worth? A died pigeon in the yard? There are many explanations. One factory is melting plastics in a residential neighborhood does not mean the whole industry is bad.

[@petermiles55]

Thailanders are so used to buying food in plastic bags. Then that plastic bag is put in another plastic carry bag. Their beaches are awash with plastic and many foreigners volunteer to do cleanups but there are so few bins to put the rubbish in. Also, in smaller provinces there are no garbage collection or recycling so people burn plastics and mattresses. I think it falls to the government to implement plastic reduction campaigns and legislation to ban single use plastics. The takeaway drink containers and straws are a big issue in tourist areas.

[@johnyossarian9059]

It's easy to be sanctimonious when your waste get exported abroad At least they are not exporting their plastic waste to other countries

[@markereeni]

It's Thai Not Thailander

[@petermiles55]

@@markereeni You don't say?

[@divinelycursed768]

Agreed. As a Thai citizen, I think the inadequate trash bins problem stems from corrupt authority figures. The authorized people from the government who were supposed to be responsible for this don't even have the knowledge and are corrupted. They only care about money. The Director General of the DMCR has records of being corrupted.

[@spinningweb749]

The global plastic production is growing at more than 10% p.a. If we are serious about tackling plastic waste, it should be tackle at source by limiting global plastic production. All plastic produced will eventually become waste.

[@xerox-f1p]

Try to reduce plastic pallets manufacturing. And recycle already existed

[@patrickm.4754]

You can assume the level of social responsibility that factory has from the Chinese letters out front.

[@nicoservin2870]

Ellos prohiben cierto fertilizantes tóxicos que en nuestros paises se usan indiscriminadamente. Pero compran nuestros productos, están exportanto su contaminación

[@wtfface.8790]

Just don't use plastic.

[@jellocubez7]

can we get a video about how nj is tired of NYC trash?

[@_orodrigofernandes]

Why not talk about proper ways of recycling the plastic? What not put up proper technology to process all this plastic instead of move this waste around??

[@sayfolman7752]

Learn How To Recycling First,That The Main Issues Here Because Most Shipment Arrive To Other Country Are In Mess Up Condition(Plastic,Paper,Aluminium,Etc Are Put In One Container) From Recycling Product It Become Garbage