THE BAG stops here. Nid Sirisupa has lodged her protest to save the planet, and Phuket.
The thoughtful shopkeeper no longer dispenses plastic bags with items purchased from her convenience store at Phuket International Airport.
In taking her small but significant stand, Khun Nid hopes to influence all of Phuket to start looking at our waste. Rubbish, trash, garbage, call it what you like like.
You can even call it a killer if you wish, because waste is gradually choking the island to death.
Just the other day, Phuketwan was looking at Phuket's waste, and we didn't like what we saw. The road to the dump takes tip trippers from wonderland to wasteland in the space of a couple of kilometres.
We go to the island's one and only dump at Saphan Hin near Phuket City once a year, about this time. After New Year, the visit is always a sobering experience.
Economically, with an eye to the future of the holiday island with the golden brand name, this is a measure of Phuket's GDP: Gross Domestic Putridness.
It's the end of the road, in more ways than one. A vision of environmental hell, a place of foul strenches and hopelessness, a frightening reminder of the off-hand way we all treat the planet and Phuket.
Every year brings changes as Phuket authorities struggle to hide their shame. Every year we are surprised and confronted by what we see and smell.
We feared 2011, young though it is, would prove to be no different. And we were right. The landscape has changed, but the lessons remain the same.
The mountain of garbage that rose up and into our nostrils last year has been covered, although we suspect a thin layer of earth will not stop the trash beneath it from turning toxic and eventually making its way into surrounding canals, the mangroves and the sea.
It has happened before, and it will happen again: nothing is surer.
The scale of Phuket's waste nightmare is difficult to convey. We don't like to embellish or exaggerate the facts. At the tip, we don't need to.
Phuket's shocking legacy, the grim, slimy stuff that oozes from an island with misplaced priorities and a legion of unthinking consumers, is a disturbing reminder of an apocalypse, certain to arrive later today, or perhaps tomorrow.
In a sense, Phuket is committing suicide. Slowly but surely, bagful by bagful, the inhabitants of the holiday island are wallowing in their own waste. It's metaphorical imagery for now.
But it's there, on every Phuket doorstep, growing each day, out of control. If you don't believe us, take a trip to the tip.
Khun Nid and others like her represent Phuket's best hope. Taking a stand against plastic bags has left her sometimes having to explain herself to shoppers who have yet to get the message.
Yet saving Phuket is all about ceasing to use plastic bags, and a whole lot more.
Reduce, reuse, recycle: this is what the island needs, along with a million people like Khun Nid.
She's seen the future and she doesn't like it. We've seen the waste mountain, and we don't like that, either.
The bag stops here.
Plastic Phuket in Retreat: We Bring Our Own BagsThe thoughtful shopkeeper no longer dispenses plastic bags with items purchased from her convenience store at Phuket International Airport.
In taking her small but significant stand, Khun Nid hopes to influence all of Phuket to start looking at our waste. Rubbish, trash, garbage, call it what you like like.
You can even call it a killer if you wish, because waste is gradually choking the island to death.
Just the other day, Phuketwan was looking at Phuket's waste, and we didn't like what we saw. The road to the dump takes tip trippers from wonderland to wasteland in the space of a couple of kilometres.
We go to the island's one and only dump at Saphan Hin near Phuket City once a year, about this time. After New Year, the visit is always a sobering experience.
Economically, with an eye to the future of the holiday island with the golden brand name, this is a measure of Phuket's GDP: Gross Domestic Putridness.
It's the end of the road, in more ways than one. A vision of environmental hell, a place of foul strenches and hopelessness, a frightening reminder of the off-hand way we all treat the planet and Phuket.
Every year brings changes as Phuket authorities struggle to hide their shame. Every year we are surprised and confronted by what we see and smell.
We feared 2011, young though it is, would prove to be no different. And we were right. The landscape has changed, but the lessons remain the same.
The mountain of garbage that rose up and into our nostrils last year has been covered, although we suspect a thin layer of earth will not stop the trash beneath it from turning toxic and eventually making its way into surrounding canals, the mangroves and the sea.
It has happened before, and it will happen again: nothing is surer.
The scale of Phuket's waste nightmare is difficult to convey. We don't like to embellish or exaggerate the facts. At the tip, we don't need to.
Phuket's shocking legacy, the grim, slimy stuff that oozes from an island with misplaced priorities and a legion of unthinking consumers, is a disturbing reminder of an apocalypse, certain to arrive later today, or perhaps tomorrow.
In a sense, Phuket is committing suicide. Slowly but surely, bagful by bagful, the inhabitants of the holiday island are wallowing in their own waste. It's metaphorical imagery for now.
But it's there, on every Phuket doorstep, growing each day, out of control. If you don't believe us, take a trip to the tip.
Khun Nid and others like her represent Phuket's best hope. Taking a stand against plastic bags has left her sometimes having to explain herself to shoppers who have yet to get the message.
Yet saving Phuket is all about ceasing to use plastic bags, and a whole lot more.
Reduce, reuse, recycle: this is what the island needs, along with a million people like Khun Nid.
She's seen the future and she doesn't like it. We've seen the waste mountain, and we don't like that, either.
The bag stops here.
Latest The idea of taking our own bags out shopping seemed fraught with potential difficulties. But in practice, it was so easy. Save Phuket? You bet. We'll certainly be trying. So it's goodbye, guilt.
Plastic Phuket in Retreat: We Bring Our Own Bags
Phuket's Muck-Rakers Battle for Island's Future
Children's Day Photo Special What does the future hold for Phuket's children? A continuing fight to save the island from its own pollution, which seems to be growing at an extraordinary rate now.
Phuket's Muck-Rakers Battle for Island's Future
Phuket's Stink Mountain Now on Toxic Overload
Toxic Shocker The mountain of trash on Phuket is now growing out of control. There is no reduce and recycle strategy. Expect a toxic disaster for the island and tourism any time now.
Phuket's Stink Mountain Now on Toxic Overload
Phuket's Putrid Pile Looms as Next Big Hazard
Apocalypse Album A visit to Phuket's central rubbish pile sparks fears about the rate at which trash is taking over. The outcome could well be an environmental disaster.
Phuket's Putrid Pile Looms as Next Big Hazard
Enviro Chief Calls for Unity in Trash Crisis
Each day, Phuket creates twice as much garbage as it can dispose of. Yet no sensible joint approach is being taken to cope or prevent a crisis, says a leading island official.
Enviro Chief Calls for Unity in Trash Crisis
not disagreeing with you. how many of us use the same plastic bags to put garbage in at our homes. so people will just buy plastic garbage bags at tesco. its not the bags. its the people. the best part of this article is the khun nid telling people about the problem.
waste is a huge problem here. but that is not a priority. i guess someone has not figured out how to skim and make money on it yet. then it will be a priority.
Posted by john s on January 8, 2011 13:16
Editor Comment:
Money seems to be always on your mind, john. But not everyone is motivated by it. Best not to assume everyone focuses on money and convenience alone - that's the real problem.