Policy background and motivation
Historical issue: In 2018, Thailand allowed the import of plastic waste to develop its plastic recycling industry, but the actual import volume far exceeded expectations. From 2018 to 2021, Thailand imported a total of 1.1 million tons of plastic waste, and in 2023, Japan alone exported about 50,000 tons to Thailand.
Environmental and health threats: Imported plastic waste is often incinerated instead of being effectively recycled, leading to microplastic pollution, deterioration of air and water sources, and posing threats to both the ecosystem and public health.
Global waste transfer: After China banned the import of "foreign waste" in 2018, Thailand became one of the main receiving countries for plastic waste from developed countries, exacerbating the pressure on domestic waste management.
Implement measures in stages
In 2023, only 14 factories located within the special economic zones were permitted to import plastic waste, with the total quantity not exceeding their combined production capacity of 372,000 tons.
In 2024: The import volume of the aforementioned factories will be halved, and enterprises outside the tax-free zone will be required to provide proof of the necessity of imports.
2025: A comprehensive ban on all plastic waste imports, including processing raw materials and mixed waste, will be implemented.
Supporting policies and objectives
Recycling Goal: We plan to achieve 100% recycling and utilization of plastic waste by 2027, and have already reduced the use of plastic bags by 150,000 tons from 2020 to 2022.
Industry chain transformation: Promote recyclable materials, collaborate with supermarkets and catering enterprises to reduce disposable plastic products (such as replacing plastic straws with paper straws), implement the extended producer responsibility system, and optimize recycling technology.
Regional cooperation: Strengthen collaboration with neighboring countries to prevent Thailand from becoming a transit hub for plastic waste.
international influence
Thailand's ban, along with similar policies in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, is driving a restructuring of the global waste plastics trade landscape. This is forcing developed countries to re-examine their own waste management policies and accelerating the process of global plastic pollution control. However, experts point out that only by binding the responsibilities of plastic-producing countries and waste-exporting countries through a global treaty can the plastic pollution problem be fundamentally solved.
The implementation of this policy marks Thailand's transition from being a "garbage recipient" to a "practitioner of sustainable development", and provides a paradigm for other developing countries to address "garbage colonization".
