Thailand Enacted New Law That Prohibits Plastic Waste Imports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  Thailand has prohibited imports of plastic waste into the country. The decision follows years of campaigning by environmentalists. The nation has seen a startling increase in plastic garbage in recent years, which has had a negative effect on both the environment and public health. On January 1, 2025, Thailand's Department of Foreign Trade released the new rule.

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Electronic garbage is increasingly being combined with plastic waste in Thailand. Since China banned imports in 2018, the nation has become the main destination for plastic trash exports from the US, UK, and Japan. In 2023, Japan is estimated to have transported 50 million kilos of plastic garbage to Thailand. Approximately 1.21 million tons of plastic scrap were imported from Japan between 2018 and 2021.

Environmentalists applauded the ban, but they also emphasized how crucial it is that the rule be properly implemented. To ensure that illegal imports of plastic garbage are avoided, they asked customs officials and other government agencies to cooperate more and monitor more closely.

It is anticipated that the restriction will encourage plastic recycling in Thailand, which will reduce the amount of wasteful plastic.