In a bid to rid the country of four types of disposable plastics within two years, Thailand’s cabinet has endorsed a plan to make single-use plastics illegal just over 13 months from now.

Following the cabinet meeting today, Minister Warawut Silpa-archa of the environment ministry said the government had approved his proposed ban to come into effect on New Year’s Day of 2021.

Dozens of Thai malls pledge to drop plastic bags for 2020

Specific penalties for violating the planned ban were not specified. Warawut’s announcement comes in the wake of movement away from Thailand’s dependency on the convenience of river-choking and wildlife killing disposable plastic.

In recent weeks, dozens of shopping malls and department stores signed onto an agreement to stop providing plastic bags in January.

“The participating stores are all Thailand’s biggest names including 7-Eleven, Central, HomePro, Big C and more,” Warawut told Coconuts Bangkok last month.

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