Abstract:
The thesis entitled The Guidelines for Promoting Community Awareness in Reducing the Use of Plastic Bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province employed a qualitative research approach with the following objectives: 1) to investigate the community behavior in using plastic bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province; 2) to explore the process for promoting community awareness in reducing the use of plastic bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province; and 3) to present the process for promoting community awareness in reducing the use of plastic bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The qualitative data were collected by focus group discussion with 10 experts, as well as in-depth interviews with 15 persons who had a role and responsibility to develop the community comprising scholars related to environmental development, community leaders, villages in Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province. The obtained data were used to respond to the research objectives and analyzed by way of content analysis. The triangulation technique was used to verify the credibility and validity of research findings.
1. From investigating the community behavior in using plastic bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province, it is discovered that Khlong Chinda Subdistrict is a large community with a lot of plastic bags. The plastic bags come from the following sources: 1) Agricultural sector; 2) Industrial sector; 3) Community enterprises; 4) Household sector. There are 5 primary considerations to reducing community use of plastic bags: 1) Receiving information about the current state of plastic bag waste; 2) Having knowledge and understanding of plastic and plastic bags; 3) Behavior in minimizing the use of plastic bags; 4) Having awareness of the problem of plastic bag waste; and 5) Opinions on government policies aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags.
2. From exploring the process for promoting community awareness in reducing the use of plastic bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province, the significant problems of the community are revealed as follows: 1) Problems with budget and support from external organizations; 2) Problems with activities and learning; and 3) Problems with participation. The following is the process for raising consumer awareness: 1) Awareness toward family; 2) Self-awareness; 3) Awareness toward other people; 4) Awareness toward society and the general public; and 5) Awareness toward environmental conservation.
3. From presenting the process for promoting community awareness in reducing the use of plastic bags, Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province, it is found that the all household sectors should be encouraged to engage in minimizing the use of plastic-based materials by the government or relevant local authorities. The 3 roles and 3 have been defined to reduce the usage of plastic-based materials in Khlong Chinda Subdistrict, Sampran District, Nakhon Pathom Province. Cooperation between all relevant sectors should be formed in order to concretely implement the plan.
The community awareness in reducing the use of plastic bags in a sustainable way should be promoted and the plastic waste should be managed; therefore, the entire operating cycle, from upstream to downstream, should be implemented. Producers must consider how they will participate in the management of plastic waste, and entrepreneurs must be conscious of their responsibilities and environmental impact. Plastic products play a significant role in our everyday lives and have a pattern of continuous consumption; as a result, plastic waste is growing at an alarming rate, and it has become an issue that must be addressed immediate