In a spacious warehouse situated in the eastern region of Thailand, near an important highway, government inspector Thitipas Choddaechachainun meticulously examines piles of discarded electronics—circuit boards, metal fragments, and outdated computer components. Each week, she and her team from the Thai Ministry of Industry visit unauthorized locations handling electronic waste, collecting samples for laboratory analysis and to ensure regulatory compliance.
Choddaechachainun heads a committed team focused on tackling the nation’s escalating issue with electronic waste, also known as e-waste. Even with regular checks and operations on these unauthorized facilities—many of which are concealed in remote areas to evade attention—the magnitude of the issue keeps growing.
Thailand is dealing with the consequences of shifts in global electronic waste allocation. Previously, countries like China handled the majority of digital discards from wealthier nations, particularly the United States and European Union members. This changed in 2018 when China implemented a ban on e-waste imports, prompting exporters to seek alternative locations in Southeast Asia, with Thailand being among the selected ones.
Thailand implemented its own ban on importing e-waste in 2020. Nonetheless, the results have not been favorable. According to Earth Thailand, a nonprofit focused on environmental protection, the amount of e-waste entering the nation has increased from approximately 3,000 tons annually before China’s restriction to almost 60,000 tons now.
El constante flujo se debe en parte a la alta rotación de dispositivos electrónicos entre los consumidores occidentales. Las actualizaciones frecuentes de teléfonos inteligentes, computadoras portátiles y otros productos electrónicos—además de la posesión generalizada de grandes electrodomésticos—generan una cantidad considerable de desechos. Aunque existen regulaciones internacionales que buscan evitar la exportación de residuos peligrosos a países en desarrollo, aún hay vacíos legales. Por ejemplo, a menudo los envíos se declaran erróneamente como electrónicos usados destinados a la reventa, solo para ser desmantelados y fundidos al llegar.
The recycling process itself poses significant environmental risks. Once on Thai soil, the e-waste is crushed and smelted to extract valuable raw materials like copper and gold. While profitable, this method of recovery emits dangerous substances such as mercury and lead, and contaminates the air, soil, and water.
Thai officials believe that the majority of collected metals are transported to China, causing environmental and social consequences.
Thai Industry Minister Akanat Promphan addresses the impact of these activities. He emphasizes that the illegal recycling industry does not contribute positively to the nation’s economy and instead negatively affects local habitats and communities. His ministry has launched an intensified initiative to shut down unauthorized operations and eliminate foreign-owned facilities involved in illegal actions.
Thailand is regarded as a dumping ground, Promphan observes. «We are dealing with an international waste management practice that provides no benefit to our country and leads to considerable damage.»
The negative consequences extend to individuals like Seng Wongsena, a 57-year-old agricultural laborer in eastern Thailand. He states that polluted discharge from a close-by smelting facility has harmed his cassava plantation, and the smell of burning debris disrupts his sleep at night. Local activists claim that the smelting operation operates without the necessary permits and are calling for intervention from government authorities.
On an international level, the consequences are alarming. According to the United Nations, more than 60 million tonnes of electronic waste are created worldwide annually—twice the amount documented 15 years prior. Projections indicate that this number could increase by more than 30% before the decade concludes.
Although the worrying increase continues, only about 20% of global electronic waste is managed using sustainable and environmentally safe techniques. The rest is dumped in landfills or processed in dangerous environments, often in countries lacking strict regulations.
Some nations have introduced extended producer responsibility laws, which hold manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products. Companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Dell are being pushed to develop systems for reclaiming and recycling their devices.
Thailand is evaluating a comparable legal framework, with the goal of bolstering local enforcement and decreasing unlawful practices associated with electronic waste management. Promphan is hopeful about its enforcement in the future.
«I’m hopeful that we will pass this new law soon—either by the end of this year or early next year,» he says. «We need comprehensive action to eliminate this illicit industry and protect our people and environment.»
As Thailand moves forward with legal reform and enhances regulation, their actions reflect a smaller aspect of a more extensive issue. Managing electronic waste necessitates worldwide collaboration, clear supply networks, and teamwork between consumers and producers. Without major transformation, the ecological impact of our technological era might surpass its advantages.
