Need for Stricter Laws to Manage Thailand’s Hazardous Waste Crisis

[webfact]

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Thailand's waste management crisis has come to the fore after fires at hazardous waste facilities in Rayong and Ayutthaya, and illegal smuggling of toxic waste across provinces. Concerns are growing as the country reportedly generates 36 million tonnes of hazardous waste every year according to the Department of Pollution Control.

 

Experts accuse the government of lax law enforcement and inadequate investment in recycling. More than 2,500 recycling and industrial waste plants are spread across the country, with about a third located in provinces linked to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

 

Authorities were urged to implement legal amendments to ensure better management of hazardous waste, and to establish an audit system for plant inspections, with some empowerment given to local authorities.

 

Legal action in Rayong in 2022 saw Win Process ordered to pay compensation to 14 locals over environmental impacts. However, the company defied the court order to fix damage, claiming it was no longer operative.

 

Additionally, recent fires at hazardous waste warehouses in Ayutthaya and Rayong resulted in major damage.

 

Victim advocates are calling on the government to repeal a 2016 order that was cited as exacerbating the problem, and stress the urgent need for robust law enforcement. A suggestion has been made to create a public Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, now under consideration in parliament. 

 

State agencies face heavy criticism for ineffective handling of chemical fires, and suggestions have been made to use funds for hazardous chemical accidents on emergency training and local compensation. Locals are reportedly suffering due to the fallout of the crisis, with concerns raised about time and cost of recovery.

 

-- 2024-04-29

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[worgeordie]

Especially as they are booking to have Nuclear power plants  in the future ,

you cannot dump that waste on the side of the road ......

 

regards Worgeordie

[Georgealbert]

Thailand has plenty of laws and regulations currently. These are issued by The Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Environment and Department of Pollution Control, 
 

The idea that creating new legislation is going to change anything, seems to be,  just a deflection.

 

The problem is the enforcement, inspections, corruption, and suitable legal action/penalties, at both local and national levels.

 

Below is one example of current regulations, from the, Hazardous Substances Act and Regulations Issued under the Hazardous Substances Act.

https://www.jetro.go.jp/thailand/e_survey/hazardousact.html#hazardact

 

It is not the regulations that are the problems, it is the officials/enforcers that need to be at the centre of attention.

Edited April 29 by Georgealbert

[impulse]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Concerns are growing as the country reportedly generates 36 million tonnes of hazardous waste every year according to the Department of Pollution Control.

 

Interesting that the USA produces 36 million tons of hazardous waste a year, with most of that being wastewater.

 

I can't imagine Thailand producing half a ton of hazardous waste per person in a year.  (Unless they're also including wastewater)  That's about 50x as much on a per GDP basis.

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1267117/hazardous-waste-generated-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=Approximately 35.8 million tons of hazardous waste were,country has decreased by approximately 4.7 million tons.

 

[dinsdale]

Stricter laws means only one thing. The brown paper bags get a little bigger.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's waste management crisis has come to the fore after fires at hazardous waste facilities in Rayong and Ayutthaya, and illegal smuggling of toxic waste across provinces.

Hub of... oh forget it.

[KhunLA]

Doubt if they need stricter (not knowing them) laws but probably just enforcement of.

 

Corruption rules, and no different anywhere in the world.   I actually have first hand knowledge of how that works.  Friend's father use to manage a landfill, outside Philadelphia, PA, USA.  Toxic stuff used to come in, as transfer point, but never left.   There were fires a couple times  month, and his father & crew used to fight & put them out.  Yep, he did of cancer a bit prematurely.   Owner of dump was a multi millionaire, and connected to politicians.   Everyone knew, nobody cares, as long as they got their cut.

 

They use to board horse there, which was cool, as we had access and use to go riding all the time at the wildlife preserve next door.   Even after the EPA supposedly shut it down, it still operated.

 

Don't drink the water, or even smoke near it ... 

[Robert Paulson]

Wait. People smuggle trash? 

[retarius]

You don't say? But will people and businesses obey the new laws? I think not. As long as it costs money to dispose of hazardous waste Thais will fly tip it.