Experts propose total ban on e-waste operations

[webfact]

Experts propose total ban on e-waste operations

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

Basel convention ‘inadequate’ in protecting Thailand from dumping of hazardous wastes.
 

THERE ARE no clear answers from officials about whether Thailand is changing its policy on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste under the Basel Convention, as the international agreement is seen by some officials and experts as ineffective in stopping the flow of electronic and plastic waste into the country.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Wijarn Simachaya yesterday said that many people have raised concerns about the convention’s effectiveness in restricting the import of hazardous wastes into the country. The national reform steering committee has called a meeting for next Wednesday to find a common resolution among the related agencies.

 

“The problem of electronic and plastic waste imports is a complex one and even though the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is the main coordinator of the Basel Convention in Thailand, there are many other official agencies also involved in this issue,” Wijarn said. “Therefore, it will need many ministries and related agencies to work together on the solution.”

 

 

The meeting will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan.

 

The Basel Convention, known in full as “The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal”, is an international agreement to reduce the transnational movements of hazardous waste, particularly from wealthier nations to poorer countries with weaker environmental protection laws. But the agreement does not forbid the movement of wastes between richer and poorer countries.

 

A total of 53 countries, including Thailand, have so far ratified the Basel Convention.

 

On Wednesday, deputy national police chief Pol General Wirachai Songmetta suggested that a committee be set up to control and reconsider the import of second-hand electronic parts into Thailand for recycling, which is permitted under the Basel Convention. He argued that it was clear Thailand did not gain any benefit from allowing overseas companies to set up electronic waste recycling plants here.

 

“In police investigation of 12 electronic waste segregation factories, we found that almost all the factories had violated laws in their entire operational process, from the illegal import of electronic waste until the disposal of discarded unrecyclable electronic waste, without proper pollution control systems, causing pollution and contamination of the environment,” Wirachai said.

 

“Moreover, these companies are also owned by foreigners, they avoid taxes, and employ migrant workers, so Thailand does not get benefit in any way – no tax revenue, no employment for the local people, and the factories leave only pollution and environmental problems for the country.”

 

The director of Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand, Penchom Saetang, argued that the Basel Convention could no longer be an effective legal tool to prevent hazardous waste movements. There are many exemptions in its regulations that allow transnational transport of hazardous waste, he said.

 

“At first, the Basel Convention was set up with the intent to totally ban all movement of hazardous wastes within the member countries, but there was powerful pressure from the waste traders who lobbied to have exemptions within the regulations. So the flow of hazardous wastes is continuing,” Penchom said.

 

The Convention creates two categories of hazardous wastes for transportation: List A and List B. The 61 hazardous wastes in List A are strictly prohibited for transportation from the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries to non-OECD countries. However, hazardous wastes within List B, which include electronic waste, are exempted from the movement ban and may be shipped to other countries for reuse or recycling.

 

In the case of Thailand’s recent headline-grabbing e-waste problem, it was found that a Chinese company was involved in illegally importing the e-waste and also in illegal employment.

 

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yang Yang said Beijing required Chinese investors and enterprises to abide by the laws and regulations of Thailand. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347786

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-15

[Samui Bodoh]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

On Wednesday, deputy national police chief Pol General Wirachai Songmetta suggested that a committee be set up to control and reconsider the import of second-hand electronic parts into Thailand for recycling, which is permitted under the Basel Convention. He argued that it was clear Thailand did not gain any benefit from allowing overseas companies to set up electronic waste recycling plants here.

"...suggested that a committee be set up..."

 

Wow! A committee? That is some powerful stuff!

 

Here is a thought; as it seems like this is causing large problems for Thailand without bringing any benefits, why not simply act without a committee and ban the importation of electronic waste? Or, is that too decisive for you?

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Moreover, these companies are also owned by foreigners, they avoid taxes, and employ migrant workers, so Thailand does not get benefit in any way – no tax revenue, no employment for the local people, and the factories leave only pollution and environmental problems for the country.”

Yes! That is the strategy! Blame the foreigners! Bad, Bad Foreigners! Bad! Bad!!!

 

It is not like the Thai government and state officials have to approve any and all companies or have the power to enforce foreign workers regulations or collect taxes or monitor environmental damage, do they? They are simply poor, helpless lambs.

 

Does anyone else hear the echo of "No Thai would do that" of Koh Tao fame?

 

If Thailand wants to clean up on this issue, it can. Easily. The Thai state has all the powers that it needs to act; the question is whether it will or not.

 

Stop blaming foreigners and get off your butts! You have a problem, deal with it.

 

Why is taking proper action such a difficult thing to do in Thailand? Even after all these years I am still bewildered by Thailand's adamant determination to do nothing when faced with difficulties...

[Oziex1]

It's not a complex problem it's illegal imports, hold it at the border and send it back. How hard can it be.

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Therefore, it will need many ministries and related agencies to work together on the solution.”

then it will never happen; the original premise of relying on thais to be self-disciplined to follow intl guidelines was the problem

[kaorop]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...suggested that a committee be set up..."

 

Wow! A committee? That is some powerful stuff!

 

 

Why is taking proper action such a difficult thing to do in Thailand? Even after all these years I am still bewildered by Thailand's adamant determination to do nothing when faced with difficulties...

i would say petty jealousies and competing interests styme many many projects here. 

 

although they bang on about 'the greater good' and 'for xxxx and country' you see very little in practice and it every family/clan for themselves..

[tracker1]

Propose that's about as far as it will go and another committee Hmmm ! last thing Thailand wants to do is upset China so keep sending your hazardous waste to whats becomming the world dumping ground !

[lvr181]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“Therefore, it will need many ministries and related agencies to work together on the solution.”

 

Uh oh...................... therein lays a problem.

[Anak Nakal]

Ban import.

Duh!

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“The problem of electronic and plastic waste imports is a complex one and even though the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is the main coordinator of the Basel Convention in Thailand, there are many other official agencies also involved in this issue,” Wijarn said. “Therefore, it will need many ministries and related agencies to work together on the solution.”

It wasn't complicated until you opened your mouth, now you made it complicated. Bureaucrat.

[timewilltell]

Many ministries .... all friends but it will take eons to sort out apportionment of benefits.

 

Foreign companies avoiding tax ..... that's a joke - Thais target foreign companies to pay tax, due or not.  I reported a corrupt lawyer who refused to issue a receipt to the tax office.  They were more concerned with my situation and asked what right I thought I had to report a Thai for tax avoidance.

 

The stench of BS and corruption is asphyxiating everyone except those that create it.

[kingstonkid]

The problem with closing these companies is that Thai's do not have the skill set to be able to run these companies and know how to deal with the waste that we have in Thailand.  Therefore these companies are a sort of necessary evil.

 

The solution is very simple.  Just like they do for major products open a bidding contest for international companies to establish a depot in Thailand.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, Oziex1 said:

How hard can it be.

Plenty hard if there's Thai authorities who earn "royalties" from such imports.

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

no employment for the local people

Why not?

Sounds like more a failure (due to potential compensated collusion?) of the Thai Labor Department to enforce compliance with labor laws pertaining to foreign businesses and workers in Thailand.

On the other hand according to Thai government labor statistics, Thailand is experiencing FULL employment so why shouldn't migrants be used to supplement the processing of e-waste?

Finally, it is apparently a failure of the Thai Department of Revenue not to correctly assess and collect taxes from the foreign companies and employees operating in Thailand. The solution is not eliminating non-compliant businesses and workers.

Rather than trying to abrogate the Basel Convention, the Thai government might try instead to address its own ineffectiveness and shortcomings to turn the e-waste industry into a sustaining industry to benefit the Thai people. Wouldn't this be consistent with Thailand 4.0?

[ChrisY1]

Thailand is one of the countries that ratify the Basel convention....yet as usual...they completely ignore, or understand, what these agreements mean.

Again....all about money and the influential....foreigners operating these businesses??...I say BS!

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

Why is taking proper action such a difficult thing to do in Thailand?

 

Because everyone is afraid to make a decision in case it backfires. A great example was when the Skytrain was extended beyond On Nut. The person who was supposed to organise the signalling didn't because he was close to retiring and was afraid of making a mistake and losing his pension. Those under him were aware of the problem but in Thailand you never question the boss. The result was a long delay, I think 18 months or more, in opening the extension.

Edited June 15, 2018 by Bangkok Barry

[UweK]

If the waste recycling companies are owned by foreigners, than this are BOI promoted businesses! So you may take waste recycling out of the Board of Investment promotion lists! The BOI promotion usually grant investors tax incentives like income taxes exemption for a couple of years, to allow the investor a fast return of investment. After that period the company will be taxed as any other company.

 

I hope you will find than enough local entrepreneurs who are willing to invest to at least recycle the locally produced waste.

Thailand has a waste problem, but mostly private household waste, commercially not very attractive!

 

In regards to the migrant workers, often Thai workers do not like to do such jobs which are dirty, where it is hot, or where they have to work hard. And this is not about low pay! The opposite is happens, our  few migrant workers in average earn more than our Thai workers, because they are just better, reliable and stay with you for a long time!

 

There are still not enough Thai workers available on the labour market!

The Thai education systems produces a lot of managers, but not enough labour that can do the work. Try to promote the acceptance of vocational training in the society. The Thai economy needs a well trained work force to be competitive!

[adwbkk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“Moreover, these companies are also owned by foreigners, they avoid taxes, and employ migrant workers, so Thailand does not get benefit in any way – no tax revenue, no employment for the local people, and the factories leave only pollution and environmental problems for the country.”

How does a foreigner own a company in Thailand?

[0815]

Owned by foeigners...
A foreigner can hold 49% of a company.
So who holds the remaining  51% ? Ghosts ?

[The Teacher]

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...suggested that a committee be set up..."

 

Wow! A committee? That is some powerful stuff!

 

Here is a thought; as it seems like this is causing large problems for Thailand without bringing any benefits, why not simply act without a committee and ban the importation of electronic waste? Or, is that too decisive for you?

 

Yes! That is the strategy! Blame the foreigners! Bad, Bad Foreigners! Bad! Bad!!!

 

It is not like the Thai government and state officials have to approve any and all companies or have the power to enforce foreign workers regulations or collect taxes or monitor environmental damage, do they? They are simply poor, helpless lambs.

 

Does anyone else hear the echo of "No Thai would do that" of Koh Tao fame?

 

If Thailand wants to clean up on this issue, it can. Easily. The Thai state has all the powers that it needs to act; the question is whether it will or not.

 

Stop blaming foreigners and get off your butts! You have a problem, deal with it.

 

Why is taking proper action such a difficult thing to do in Thailand? Even after all these years I am still bewildered by Thailand's adamant determination to do nothing when faced with difficulties...

It might make someone do more work than others, still unbelievably stupid why this seems so hard to implement throughout Thailand in the 21st century. 

[lvr181]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Rather than trying to abrogate the Basel Convention, the Thai government might try instead to address its own ineffectiveness and shortcomings to turn the e-waste industry into a sustaining industry to benefit the Thai people. Wouldn't this be consistent with Thailand 4.0?

Standard 'farang' thinking but....... TIT. 

[lvr181]

4 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

It wasn't complicated until you opened your mouth, now you made it complicated. Bureaucrat.

Bureaucrap. 

[peperobi]

Thailand is already the poison paradise, they don't need to import e-waste.

[sawadee1947]

9 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...suggested that a committee be set up..."

 

Wow! A committee? That is some powerful stuff!

 

Here is a thought; as it seems like this is causing large problems for Thailand without bringing any benefits, why not simply act without a committee and ban the importation of electronic waste? Or, is that too decisive for you?

 

Yes! That is the strategy! Blame the foreigners! Bad, Bad Foreigners! Bad! Bad!!!

 

It is not like the Thai government and state officials have to approve any and all companies or have the power to enforce foreign workers regulations or collect taxes or monitor environmental damage, do they? They are simply poor, helpless lambs.

 

Does anyone else hear the echo of "No Thai would do that" of Koh Tao fame?

 

If Thailand wants to clean up on this issue, it can. Easily. The Thai state has all the powers that it needs to act; the question is whether it will or not.

 

Stop blaming foreigners and get off your butts! You have a problem, deal with it.

 

Why is taking proper action such a difficult thing to do in Thailand? Even after all these years I am still bewildered by Thailand's adamant determination to do nothing when faced with difficulties...

Who would blame himself in public being an idiot and neglecting duties but grabbing money instead???