The idea of being a dumping ground for the rich world’s trash is undesirable, and several governments foisted restrictions on the volume and types of plastic that can be imported.
Now, Thailand risks becoming the world’s dump site.
Despite the Thai government’s ban on four more types of single-use plastics in 2022, up to 250,000 tonnes of imported plastic waste from other nations continues to flow into the country.
The importation of waste is harming not just the environment but also the livelihoods of small scrap collectors.
The more imported waste grows, the less they earn from the local waste they collect.
For decades, recyclables in Bangkok and other Thai cities have been picked up by saleng, informal collectors who root through household bins and municipal landfills, looking for anything of value.
At the height of the imported-plastic boom, the supply surplus meant that plastic prices plunged to as little as 5 baht ($0.14) per kilogram.
Although saleng make their living selling plastic waste, a slew of it from abroad is, paradoxically, a threat to their livelihoods.
The garbage beauty queen also known as Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam was raised in Bangkok, Thailand.
"Growing up with garbage collector parents, my life as a child was among piles of garbage and recyclables," Anna posted.
Her experiences growing up inspired her to take on the platform of advocating for equal access to education for all Thai children during her reign as Miss Universe Thailand.
The issue of plastic litter in Thailand is a pressing situation that requires immediate attention and practical solutions to mitigate its detrimental effects on the people in the country.
Raising awareness about the impacts of such amount of litter can help in improving waste management and eventually pave the way for a cleaner and sustainable future.
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