Chula Announcement on Measures to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Waste

Chulalongkorn University has implemented policies, guidelines and action plans on waste management, with an aim to reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills to a minimum. Among the waste that comes in a great variety of forms, single-use plastic has been increasing in great numbers. Such plastic waste has adverse effects on the ecosystem on land and in the ocean because of its poor degradation properties.

By virtue of Section 27 and Section 32 of the Chulalongkorn University Act BE 2551 (2008 AD), the university has enacted the announcement as follows:

1. This announcement is called “Chulalongkorn University’s Announcement on Measures to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Waste in the University BE 2561 (2018 AD)”.

2. This announcement:

(1) is effective in education zones within 120 days after its publication.
(2) is effective in commercial zones within 365 days after its publication.

3. In this announcement:

“Shops” means places where products and services are offered to customers within the university’s education zones. They include convenience stores, book centers, co-op shops, coffee shops, kiosks in flea markets, and food stalls in canteens. These also include places that offer products and services within the university’s commercial zones at Suan Luang, Sam Yan, Siam Square and Chamchuri Square.

4. All shops are obliged to cease handing out free single-use plastic bags to their customers, with an exception for carrying cooked and ready-to-eat food. Alternatively, shops shall provide 100% recyclable bags such as bioplastic bags or paper bags for sale, at a price of mo more than 2 baht each. Other options include offering a shopping bag rental service to customers, who should pay a deposit, or setting up a donation box where used bags can be donated for those who need them.

5. Food stalls in canteens are obliged to refrain from using single-use plastic cups, in favor of options including bioplastic-coated paper or reusable cups. Also, shops shall offer an incentive by giving discounts to those who bring personal cups when buying drinks.

6. Shops are obliged to refrain from using foam containers and plastic bags made of oxo-degradable plastics, which will eventually disintegrate into hazardous microplastic residues in the environment.

7. Shops are obliged to reduce the usage of single-use plastic spoons, forks and straws, and should not hand them out to customers unless the latter request them. Also, shops shall ask customers of their needs before offering these single-use plastic items.

8. The university will not accept any complaints about shopkeepers or vendors who do not hand out single-use plastic bags or any other single-use plastic items, either in its educational or commercial zones. This is to ensure fair treatment of all who adhere to the university’s policy.

9. All shops within the educational zones have to strictly comply with this announcement, for the benefit of health and the environment.

Shops within the commercial zones are obliged to strictly comply with Sections 6 and 7. In the case of Section 4, shops shall use their own judgment, in line with a campaign to reduce single-use plastic items. They shall put up signs to encourage customers to buy fewer such items and to say no to single-use plastic bags.

10. The President of the university shall be the one who maintains and enforces this announcement.

In the event of any disputes over interpretation or other problems arising as a result of the enforcement of this announcement, the President shall have the right to investigate and to make the final judgment.

Announced on November 23, BE 2561 (2018 AD)
(Prof Dr Bundhit Eua-arporn)
President