Image: Andrei Ciobanu via Unsplash
Thailand has officially banned the import of plastic waste, citing growing concerns about toxic pollution and its impact on the environment and human health, reported The Guardian.
In 2018, Thailand emerged as a major hub for plastic waste imports from Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. This shift followed China’s decision to ban the import of household waste, which had previously made it the largest global market for such materials.
Japan ranks among the largest exporters of plastic waste to Thailand, shipping approximately 50 million kilograms in 2023 alone. According to Thai customs data, the country received over 1.1 million tonnes of plastic scraps between 2018 and 2021.
In Thailand, plastic waste imports were frequently mishandled, with numerous factories opting to burn the materials instead of recycling them. This practice caused significant harm to both human health and the environment.
The ban takes effect amid ongoing negotiations to finalise a global treaty on plastic waste. Efforts to reach an agreement stalled last year during talks in Busan, where nations were unable to settle on the treaty’s final terms. Over 100 countries had backed a draft proposal calling for legally binding measures to reduce global plastic production – currently exceeding 400 million tonnes annually – and to eliminate specific chemicals and single-use plastic items.
However, opposition from oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia to proposed reductions in plastic production ultimately forced negotiators to abandon the effort.
A timeline for resuming negotiations on the global treaty to tackle plastic waste has yet to be established.
Dr Cressida Bowyer, deputy director of the Revolution Plastics Institute, which has researched the risks associated with the open burning of plastic waste, commented: ‘With 16% of global municipal waste burned openly, rising to 40-65% in low-and middle-income countries, vulnerable populations bear the brunt of this crisis. The toxic fumes from burning plastic are a silent but deadly contributor to global health burdens. Urgent action is needed.’