New law expected to improve disposal of electronic waste in Thailand

[webfact]

New law expected to improve disposal of electronic waste
WASU VIPOOSANAPAT
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- STATE AGENCIES and business operators were hopeful that the new law to manage electronic waste, which would be implemented early next year, would bring about better disposal of such hazardous waste in Thailand.

Pollution Control Department (PCD) deputy director-general Sunee Piyapanpong commented during a seminar on the waste appliances draft law yesterday that the draft legislation would be submitted for the Cabinet's consideration this year, hence it should be implemented by early 2015. The draft law developed from the "extended producer responsibility" concept that allowed goods producers to take responsibility for the goods throughout the products' entire life chain, including the recycling or disposal.

Sunee said Thailand needs the law enforcement to deal with waste problems.

"In the past, we didn't have an appropriate programme on waste management. Many communities, especially those in the Northeast, arranged inappropriate separation and disposing of of electrical |appliances and electronic gadgets," Sunee added.

The enforcement requires entrepreneurs to register and submit a waste disposal annual report so the agency can follow up the company's performance on waste management.

The penalty includes a Bt100,000 fine for not registering or a Bt200,000 fine for not following the waste management plan.

Beneficial to consumers

A draft bill committee member and Chulalongkorn University environmental research institute researcher, Sujitra Wassanadamrongdee, said this law would benefit consumers so they know where waste would be disposed.

"It's high time this law is finally implemented as there's a growing number of electronic devices every year," she said.

Sujitra said the law would hopefully lead to good practices among manufacturers who would be responsible for the electronics products throughout their entire life span, especially the recycling after consumers had returned them.

Several product manufacturers, who asked not to be named, said they agreed with the draft law but were concerned about recycling factories, as a part of their duty to forward the waste.

Some recycling factories didn't yet meet the standard of waste disposal, as their technology was not yet fully developed, so the government should focus on this matter, too, they said.

According to the PCD's survey in 2012, electronic waste accounts for 300,000-400,0000 tonnes per year.

Another report by the Industrial Works Department said that 20.88 million electrical and electro-|nic devices were disposed of last year.

They included 9.14 million landline telephones, 2.43 million television sets, 3.3 million portable audio and video players, 1.99 million personal computers, 1.5 million fax machines, 710,000 air-conditioners and 872,000 refrigerators.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/New-law-expected-to-improve-disposal-of-electronic-30243099.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-12

[AleG]

There is a lot of money to be made by recycling e-waste, that it needs to be encouraged boggles the mind.

[doremifasol]

"In the past, we didn't have an appropriate programme on waste management"

You still don't have it in the present.

And before thinking about the big recycling factories standards why don't you think about your standards?

Deputy director-general bla bla bla of the Poor Pollution Control Department

did you know that here in the province we still have to use

those ugly, stinking, lousy, disgusting open blue garbage tanks?

And what to say about those waste collection trucks?

Are you aware of the working conditions of the garbage men here in the province?

Ever crossed your mind that there are people paying for the lousy disposal service

you provide who also happen to be concerned about their own health?

What did you do about that until now?

[soalbundy]

Nothing about disposable batteries, they end up in the waste bin, in Europe the seller must take the used batteries back to be properly disposed of. A lot of dangerous substances from these batteries end up in the soil and ground water.

[Strangebrew]

See first of all Thai's must be told there is money in that electronic waste, in the form of gold, silver,and platinum. Also plastic can be recycled not to mention the metals. Such as copper. But I'm just knucklehead Farang don't know nothing about anything.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Good news! Another step forward for the environment.

Edited September 12, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[JohnThailandJohn]

Nothing about disposable batteries, they end up in the waste bin, in Europe the seller must take the used batteries back to be properly disposed of. A lot of dangerous substances from these batteries end up in the soil and ground water.

Curious, how do the sellers get the batteries back? Everyone in Europe knows to bring them back to the retailer where they bought them? If so, sounds like a good system.

I am from the US and although I think a fair number of people know you are not supposed to throw batteries and such away with the normal trash, I would guess the overwhelming vast majority of people do and wouldn't even know what else to do with them. I actually just did a quick internet search to see what is supposed to be done with them and seems even the manufacturers don't have a solid answer except...

Proven cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries. Some communities offer recycling or collection of alkaline batteries contact your local government for disposal practices in your area. http://www.duracell.com/en-us/battery-care-and-disposal/disposing-of-general-purpose-and-alkaline-batteries

Edited September 12, 2014 by JohnThailandJohn

[soalbundy]

Nothing about disposable batteries, they end up in the waste bin, in Europe the seller must take the used batteries back to be properly disposed of. A lot of dangerous substances from these batteries end up in the soil and ground water.

Curious, how do the sellers get the batteries back? Everyone in Europe knows to bring them back to the retailer where they bought them? I am from the US and although I think a fair number of people know you are not supposed to throw batteries and such away with the normal trash, I would guess the overwhelming vast majority of people do and wouldn't even know what else to do with them. I actually just did a quick internet search to see what is supposed to be done with them and seems even the manufacturers don't have a solid answer except...

Proven cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries. Some communities offer recycling or collection of alkaline batteries—contact your local government for disposal practices in your area. http://www.duracell.com/en-us/battery-care-and-disposal/disposing-of-general-purpose-and-alkaline-batteries

In the town i lived in in Germany there were collection boxes at several stores/supermarkets for used batteries. I am not an avid believer in separating rubbish,the packaging industry should be made to develop bio-degradable packaging,but i did conscientiously use these boxes to dispose of my used batteries,in the perhaps naive belief that they would be destroyed in an environmentally friendly way.

[manhood]

In Thailand i love the high amounts of penalties for any breaking of laws!!!!!!!!!!!

you only get the people to do things in a proper way while the penalty is as high as they might never afford all their life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and the enforcement of payments is constantly pursuing!

UPS forget: nobody is registered with his proper resicence: except the farangs living here!

[3NUMBAS]

taken as a load theres gold and other rare metals on electronic parts that can be salvaged

[ignis]

See first of all Thai's must be told there is money in that electronic waste, in the form of gold, silver,and platinum. Also plastic can be recycled not to mention the metals. Such as copper. But I'm just knucklehead Farang don't know nothing about anything.

Just about everything at my house goes to the Recycle place, and I get paid for it....

Any size Batteries, as said plastic [clear get more money, so sort as less money for coloured plastic], metal/tin, paper, cardboard, glass, ALL electrical items, china even old clothes and shoes.. I get around 400 baht every other month

I always take it, but there are 2 different pickups that come to the Village 3x week..

Just cannot understand when driving around and see dumped washing machines and fridges...... that is 700 baht per item someone has bumped..!!