As of this Sunday, visitors to any of the 154 national parks across the country may get frustrated with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation's (DNP) new rule, which prohibits them from bringing single-use plastics and styrofoam food boxes into the compounds. It is an effort to cut non-recyclable waste.

DNP deputy director-general Jongklai Worapongsathorn told the media that park officials are prepared for an earful of complaints from visitors. The DNP, nevertheless, will make cloth bags and non-plastic food containers available for visitors.

I give the DNP a big round of applause for coming up with such a measure. Understandably, the department has seen how plastic waste has harmed pristine nature reserves and wild animals.