Recently, the director of the Department of Pollution Control revealed that it will conduct a 60-day due diligence investigation on whether it is necessary to continue to import waste plastics for recycling in accordance with the order of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varau. Imports will be 100% banned until the exact quantity is known, and factories can use the domestic market for recycling.

The Director of Thailand’s Pollution Control Department, Atapon, revealed that the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Walau convened various relevant departments to discuss the quantity and necessity of plastic and electronic waste imports, and decided to set up a special working group within 60 days to meet Thailand’s needs. The total amount of waste imports and the necessity to conduct due diligence.

In addition, the meeting also discussed the import processing procedures of illegal wastes that have been investigated and dealt with by the customs. For example, the customs should not auction the seized illegal imported wastes, but should return to the original place.

The specific implementation plan may be explained more clearly at the next meeting. But at present, economic development must be carried out under the principle of protecting the environment first, such as increasing domestic waste recycling, rather than importing large amounts of cheap waste from abroad.

It is reported that the Department of Pollution Control will conduct due diligence on 129 waste recycling and processing plants in the industrial park to ensure that their waste import process is in compliance with the regulations, and will also investigate the environmental impact of their waste treatment.

The goal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is to achieve zero import of waste by 2021, while promoting the recycling of domestic waste and accelerating the sustainable development goal of environmental pollution control.

This move may impose many restrictions on the recycled plastic raw material industry, and it also means that some countries in Southeast Asia have realized the impact of waste plastics on the environment.

So many recycled plastic raw materials companies that have moved to Southeast Asian countries because of China's severe environmental protection crackdowns need to pay attention. Only by improving the level of technology and reducing the impact on the environment is the road to future development.