Thitipas Choddaechachainun and her team from Thailand’s industry ministry are investigating the growing problem of electronic waste in the country. They collect samples from unlicensed plants, where a significant amount of the waste comes from the US and the European Union. Despite efforts to control the issue, the amount of electronic waste in Thailand has increased twentyfold in the past decade. This is due to China’s ban on imports in 2018, which led shippers to look for alternative destinations, such as Thailand.
The import ban in Thailand introduced in 2020 has not solved the problem. According to environmental group Earth Thailand, the amount of electronic waste flooding into the country has increased twentyfold in the past decade, from around 3,000 tonnes a year before the Chinese ban to 60,000 now.
The waste is often labeled as “second-hand electronic goods for re-sale” to bypass laws in Western countries that prevent the dumping of e-waste in other countries. However, once it reaches its destination, the waste is often crushed and smelted to retrieve valuable metals and minerals. This process is not only environmentally damaging, but it also poses a threat to the livelihoods of local communities.
Thai industry minister Akanat Promphan has formed a task force to crackdown on these unlicensed recycling plants, many of which are Chinese-owned. He describes them as “a sort of a garbage site – an international garbage processing facility – in Thailand.” The valuable metals extracted from the waste are then exported to China, further contributing to the country’s e-waste problem.
The environmental impact of this business is severe, with reports of polluted water and damaged crops in nearby areas. Local and international environmentalists are campaigning for stricter laws and regulations to hold electronic manufacturers accountable for the disposal of their products.
However, Thailand’s e-waste problem is just one aspect of a larger global issue. The United Nations reports that over 60 million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste are produced each year, with only a quarter of it being collected and recycled responsibly. Some countries have introduced laws to hold manufacturers responsible for the disposal of their products, and Thailand is planning to follow suit.
Thai industry minister Akanat Promphan is committed to taking action against the illegal e-waste business and driving them out of the country. He hopes that a new law will be enacted by the end of the year or early next year.