Chinese-funded factory in Chonburi shut over buried waste

Authorities have ordered a Chinese-funded factory in Bo Thong district, Chonburi, to stop operating after reports that a huge quantity of industrial waste had been secretly buried on its grounds.

Initial checks found an estimated 700 to 800 tonnes of waste at the factory in That Thong subdistrict. Officials are now awaiting laboratory results to establish what substances are present and whether they are hazardous.

The order was issued on 26 August 2026 by Bo Thong district chief Nuntawat Thongchuang, Chonburi provincial industry chief Duangchan Unchat, and That Thong Municipality mayor Damrong Deecharoenwongkul.

Factory ordered to halt operations

The officials posted a notice prohibiting the factory from continuing its operations while the investigation proceeds.

Picture courtesy of Amarin

The case began after the Chonburi Provincial Industry Office and That Thong Municipality received a report alleging illegal disposal of industrial waste at the Chinese-owned facility.

Authorities have not yet identified the type of waste or confirmed whether it contains dangerous chemicals. Further legal action will depend on the results of the testing, officials said.

Tests will determine possible risks

The scale of the suspected disposal has prompted an official response and the closure order remains in place while samples are examined. Any finding that the material is hazardous could lead to legal proceedings under Thai law.

Officials have not said when the laboratory findings are expected, nor have they released details about the factory's business activity.

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27 August 2026