Thai waste bill threatens hundreds earning from recycling

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Waste bill threatens hundreds earning from recycling
CHOMPIS PINMUEANG
THE NATION
KALASIN

BANGKOK: -- RESIDENTS OF the so-called "toxic waste village" are holding their breath over the ongoing legislation of an environment-friendly law that will threaten their livelihood - separating waste and selling the recyclables.

Most residents of Tambon Khok Sa-ard, Khok Chai district in Kalasin province, do not worry much about health or environ

mental impacts from local junkyards - as long as they can generate income. Their concerns now surround the fact that if the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approves the promotion of the Hazardous Waste from Used Product Management Bill, they will likely lose their means of livelihood.

"I am going to be in trouble if the law takes effect and practically forces me out of this business," said Somkid Jomkhamsing, who runs a junkyard.

She said she earned between Bt15,000 and Bt20,000 a month - a remarkable success for a rural villager who did not even have to leave her hometown.

Somkid said it had never been easy for people in the remote province to start up a business and the thought of losing her junkyard was painful.

Tambon Khok Sa-ard Administra-tive Organisation's deputy chief administrator Pratuang Nathomthong reckoned many locals would suffer if the law was introduced and they were forced to stop their operation.

"If local junkyards go out of business, workers who earn about Bt300 a day will face the adverse impacts all the same. That's why locals now have a heavy heart," Pratuang said.

He calculated that there were now more than 240 registered junkyard operators in the area.

"This is in addition to many entrepreneurs who have been doing this business without a proper licence," he said.

Nookan Chaiyachoke, the kamnan of Tambon Khok Sa-ard, said the threatened legislation change would affect locals here in a big way.

"So, if this law comes into force, relevant government agencies should step in to help cushion the impact on locals," he said. The Promotion of the Hazardous Waste from Used Product Management Bill would require manufacturers to manage the disposal of their sold units.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Waste-bill-threatens-hundreds-earning-from-recycli-30254932.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-27

[Costas2008]

Nothing unusual here.

We are only concerned about our own little selves our own pockets our own well being.

Forget about the environment, forget about public health, forget about other people.

This is "Thainess" at it's best ladies and Gentlemen.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Costas2008

[Bluespunk]

While I support the initiative to introduce more environmentally practices {and to a certain extent am thinking "tough" with regards to those who profit from enterprises that damage it}, I do hope that those who have tried to recycle some of the waste that was otherwise being left to pollute are compensated generously.

At the very least they will need some form of investment that will ensure long term employment for all.

[cumgranosalum]

Just another example of a ham-fisted dictum attempted with little or no consultation or concern for those involved. Repeatedly successive governments ignore environmental issues and how they relate to local people - they let impossible situations develop and then when the problem becomes unmanageable or politically awkward, it becomes apparent that they haven't got the competence to solve it.

[FloridaExport]

It would be helpful to mention why this bill will affect the junkyards. Is it outlawing junkyards? Is it putting restrictions on the kinds of disgusting chemicals they can just spill onto the ground? Are they just scared of the name of the bill? A google search on the bill title with "Thailand" added to the end didn't help. The first two hits were from Seattle.

[northernboy]

Sorry BluePunk and anyone who thinks this is really about the environmental safety is being duped . Farangs say Thais are the one that do not think the end game, wake up farangs you seem to be more easily bamboozled than a rice farmers daughter.

It is about the huge profits that can be made when the richer people can control an industry as a whole. Think who controls the waste in New York city and why? Even our last prime minister had a so called recycling project for Chiang Mai garbage in order to make a profit. It certainly was not concerned with safety laws as was located from the start to close legally, to a water supply but that was no problem to get a pass. It was never concerned about the law or the environment it had to do with government contracts and haulage costs. Fang is further than Doi Saket from Chiang Mai and rates in the future where to be paid with time.

So just maybe it has to do with who gets the profits when the 240 legal companies are closed that even declare they make 50 million in profits a year well if you control the whole market with extra government funding because "your friends" have now ruled producers are responsible for their end waste. Can we say a monopoly there the sky is the limit.

[yardrunner]

Nothing unusual here.

We are only concerned about our own little selves our own pockets our own well being.

Forget about the environment, forget about public health, forget about other people.

This is "Thainess" at it's best ladies and Gentlemen.

No this is NIMBY, not in my back yard only worrying about how things affect you as an individual common in every country and every community

[Bluespunk]

Sorry BluePunk and anyone who thinks this is really about the environmental safety is being duped . Farangs say Thais are the one that do not think the end game, wake up farangs you seem to be more easily bamboozled than a rice farmers daughter.

It is about the huge profits that can be made when the richer people can control an industry as a whole. Think who controls the waste in New York city and why? Even our last prime minister had a so called recycling project for Chiang Mai garbage in order to make a profit. It certainly was not concerned with safety laws as was located from the start to close legally, to a water supply but that was no problem to get a pass. It was never concerned about the law or the environment it had to do with government contracts and haulage costs. Fang is further than Doi Saket from Chiang Mai and rates in the future where to be paid with time.

So just maybe it has to do with who gets the profits when the 240 legal companies are closed that even declare they make 50 million in profits a year well if you control the whole market with extra government funding because "your friends" have now ruled producers are responsible for their end waste. Can we say a monopoly there the sky is the limit.

The environmental damage being caused by places such as this is such that there has to be an overarching controlling body. For me the best choice there is always governments. I agree that in some places {such as here} that can and will lead to corruption but something has to be done.. The present situation is untenable.

I don't know if the reference you make to 'my friend's is directed at me, implying some form of political bias on my part or not, {outside of environmental concerns} but if it is, that is BS.

[FangFerang]

Why not let the junkyard owners as as subcontractors for the manufacturers?

There are many scenarios where no one loses in this......

[Strangebrew]

Excuse me how can this be they going to make it illegal to recycle? Why draft a plan where small recyclers collect recyclables and sell to the larger recyclers at a profit works in the states

[cup-O-coffee]

I suppose if the gang element were removed, there would be a lot of darling little dears without income to purchase phone credit, iPads, iPhones, bling bling, new upgrades on their bikes, low rider cars, etc, etc. I could not imagine the amount of protest from these innocent little darlings.

I suppose if crime were cut down by half, there wold be a lot of upset people who were no longer able to earn any money from extortion, blackmail, usury, etc. etc.

So sad. These poor, misunderstood people. Everyone has a sad song.