Staying home may be good for reducing fossil fuel emissions and giving nature a break, but not our bad plastic habit.

Consumers are urged to be more mindful of their plastic waste, particularly from ordering food, after reports of plastic pollution surging up to 6,300 tonnes per day from 1,500 tonnes per day before the pandemic, according to Wijarn Simachaya, director of the Thailand Environment Institute.

Wijarn this week urged Thais to replace use of single-use plastic with reusable containers when they can during lockdown.

8 life hacks for greener Bangkok living now – and after the pandemic

The rise of plastic waste came after many venues including restaurants were ordered to only provide takeout service. Many have also turned to delivery for sales.

On the upside, Wijarn said threatened leatherback sea turtles are laying eggs on southern beaches at record rates.

Earlier this year, several shopping malls and department stores nationwide – including 7-Eleven, Central, HomePro and Big C – stopped providing plastic bags to support plans to ban several types of single-use plastics by 2021.

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