PHUKET still has a plastic bag or two in its future. The plan to obliterate them by charging a levy at stores and supermarkets has been put back on the shelf for now.

As Phuket Vice Governor Treerayut Eamtakul told a meeting this week: ''If we are really intent on banning plastic, why would we get stores to charge people more for it?''

That was the hard-to-answer question that led to the change in strategy, he told a media conference at Provincial Hall.

The plan is still to get rid of plastic bags on the island, but the idea now is to educate everyone first about Phuket's waste disposal crisis and why change is necessary.

That strategy start on February 13-15 with an education program in the Convention Hall at Central Festival. Reduce, Recycle and Reuse is now the focus of the campaign.

And the strategy has a name: Phuket Green Island.

People who bring along 15 to 20 plastic bags from 3pm on February 14 will be entitled to swap them for a reusable green shopping bag.

Role models already involved in projects to cut unnecessary waste, including the acclaimed Evason Six Senses Resort at Rawai, will be offering advice.

Using organic banana leaves and waterlily bulbs for packaging instead of expensive plastic will be another element.

The concept of charging for plastic bags stalled after some of the larger retailers on Phuket declined to join in.