plastic
Thai Government’s Plastic Bag Ban Forces Shoppers to Get Creative
Thai people are finding creative ways to shop at supermarkets following a nationwide plastic bag ban enacted by the Thailand government at the start of 2020.
All major stores in the country have participated in the effort, including CP All (owner of 7-Eleven’s local franchise), the Big C Supercentre, Siam Makro, Robinsons, Central Group and The Mall Group.
Villagers Now Swap Plastic Garbage for Rice in the Philippines
A village in Muntinlupa, Philippines is trying to tackle the plastic problem by offering its villagers a kilogram (about 2 pounds) of rice in exchange for plastics.
Residents of Bayanan village can receive 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice when they exchange 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of plastic waste.
Filipino Engineer Uses Recycled Plastic Waste to Create Chairs for Schoolchildren
Filipino engineer Winchester Lemen is a mechanical engineer from the southern Philippines and runs Envirotech Waste Recycling to turn plastic garbage into chairs.
Envirotech Waste Recycling (EWRI) began making chairs when a visitor came to his plant to ask if he could make something from recycled plastic, and the engineer presented prototype chairs made of melted plastic from landfills. The plastic garbage is collected, shredded, cleaned, melted and molded. After that, they are assembled, sanded and painted.
Indonesia is Becoming a Landfill for Western Countries Because of Environmental Loopholes
Environmental activists in Indonesia are speaking out against the alleged loopholes of the Trade Ministry’s 2016 regulation on waste imports that have essentially turned their home into a dump site for other countries.
The environmental group Bali Fokus called upon the authorities to improve Indonesia’s policies so plastic waste smuggling can be prevented, the Jakarta Post reported.
Supermarkets in Asia are Now Using Banana Leaves Instead of Plastic Packaging
Supermarkets in Vietnam have adopted an initiative from Thailand that makes use of banana leaves instead of plastic as a packaging alternative.
Rimping supermarket in Chiangmai, Thailand earned praise on Facebook for coming up with the eco-friendly packaging after a local firm featured it on their page last week.
McDonald’s in Japan Starts Using Trays Made Form Recycled Plastic Toys
McDonald’s in Japan are using trays recycled from plastic toys as part of the fast food chain’s attempt to reduce plastic waste.
Boba Tea Shops Scramble as San Francisco Moves to Ban Plastic Straws
Owners of bubble tea shops in San Francisco have been forced to search for new kinds of straws as the city’s Board of Supervisors decides to ban those made from plastic.
The ordinance, introduced by Supervisors Katy Tang and Ahsha Safaí, forbids establishments from offering plastic items such as straws, stirrers, toothpicks, beverage plugs and cocktail sticks.
The U.K. Now Has Tons of Plastic Piling Up After China Stops Taking Their Recycle Waste
The United Kingdom will have to find another way to dispose of the mountains of plastic waste continuously building up in the island nation as China has stopped accepting imported household plastics meant for recycling.
According to the BBC, Britain sent up to 500,000 tonnes of plastic for recycling to China in 2014 and 2015, while it was 400,000 tonnes in 2016. Experts are now looking into alternatives such as landfills or incinerators as China will no longer receive “loathsome foreign waste” starting this month. Other Asian nations will reportedly take some of the plastic.
Pakistani, Chinese Scientists Discover ‘Plastic-Eating’ Fungus in Islamabad Garbage Dump
A recent discovery by a team of scientists from China and Pakistan has the potential to revolutionize plastic waste management for good.
According to the Dawn, the researchers discovered that the fungus “Aspergillus tubingensis” feeds on plastic in a garbage dump in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
Indian Scientist Develops Brilliant Earth-Saving Use for Plastic Garbage
An innovative scientist in India has developed an effective system that transforms plastic garbage into durable construction components to build cost-effective roads.
The technology, devised by Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a professor at Thiagarajar College of Engineering, may help address the current plastic waste problem India is facing today.