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Five waste treatment plants shuttered for recycling illegal electronic waste

The Director-General of Thailand's Department of Industrial Works, Mongkol Pruekwatana, has ordered the closure of five waste recycling plants in the East for filing false import claims.

Mongkol said today that these factories allegedly imported electronic waste illegally and allegedly made false claims in an attempt to avoid being detected. The other two waste treatment factories in the eastern region remain open on the condition that the quantity of electronic waste being recycled does not exceed one percent of all waste materials treated.

Regarding the proposal to terminate the import of electronic waste altogether, the Director-General said it would be possible under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and Thailand’s Hazard Substances Act B.E. 2535. Despite the possibility, Mongkol said that further discussion is needed. Thailand imported more than 64,000 tons of electronic waste last year and at least 52,000 tons since January this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan says discussions will be held among related agencies regarding the illegal importation of electronic waste and to seek solutions if the import is not completely banned. He stressed that it would be handled under the rule of law.

Information and Source
Reporter : Nuppol Suvansombut
Rewriter : Rodney McNeil
National News Bureau & Public Relations


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