Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will propose to the cabinet a total ban on the import of plastic waste into Thailand beginning next year.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat said today that, as imports of plastic waste are to end next year, Thailand will increase recycling of locally-generated plastic waste by as much as 100% within ten years, with the application of new measures that will require plastic products to contain a certain percentage of recycled plastic. The minister added that he is confident that Thailand has the technology and facilities to reach this goal.
Currently, about two million tonnes of plastic waste are generated in Thailand each year but only 500,000 tonnes are recycled. In the meantime, plastic trash is currently allowed to be imported for use in production of plastic products to save cost.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Environment and UNCRD, is hosting the 9th Asia and Pacific ministerial and senior officials’ meetings on garbage disposal in Bangkok today through Wednesday.
