Information Provision and Economic Approach for Promotion of Plastic Shopping Bag Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand.

Abstract

This research aims to study the situations of plastic bag management from stakeholders, current plastic bag use trends, evaluate the effect of information provision and estimate the willingness to pay for plastic bag waste management in Bangkok. Online and field questionnaires had been distributed to collect the data. This study found that the trend of plastic bag use is moderate while most of respondents always reuse their plastic bag. Situations of plastic bag management indicate plastic bags are still distributed for free in the market, but some retailers started not to provide them. The plastic bag production is gradually affected by reduction measures. Descriptive and life cycle thinking based information can reduce plastic bag use intention, expectation for plastic bag as well as an intention of double plastic bag use intention. They can enhance environmental attitude and perception. Willingness to pay for plastic bag waste management was analyzed by using contingent valuation method then estimated by interval regression. Online and filed respondents express WTP 0.030-0.044US$ per bag. Influencing factors are age, use intention and levy support. Recommendations had been generated into 3 topics I) increase environmental awareness, II) integration of managements at all stakeholder levels and III) legislation for plastic bag reduction measure.