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Thailand ratified the Basel Convention in 1997 but until now had not ratified the important Ban Amendment that prohibits the export of hazardous wastes from developed to developing countries. This means that rich, highly industrialized countries could still legally export hazardous wastes to Thailand after receiving government permits. Further, some developed nations have been able to export hazardous waste to Thailand under bilateral agreements. One example of this is the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement or JTEPA, under which Japan was allowed to export various types of hazardous waste to Thailand. In the absence of the Ban Amendment being ratified, Thailand has been receiving hazardous waste. In 2022, Thailand imported 3,840,909 kilograms of ash and residue waste, containing arsenic, and other metals or their compounds. Thailand was also importing electronic waste, many of which fall under the hazardous category in the Basel Convention. Between January and March of 2023 alone, Thailand imported over 25 million kg of electronic waste. A number of exporters of these types of wastes are OECD nations. Such exports will now be prohibited.
In the recent past, such waste imports have caused significant contamination of the environment in Thailand. On May 1st, 2023, NGOs EARTH, IPEN, and Arnika Association released a report on the contamination of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Dechlorane Plus in the blood of electronic waste workers in Thailand. Earlier in December 2022, the same group of organizations released a report on the discovery of dioxins in chicken eggs from an area affected by e-waste recycling and an industrial waste dumpsite. In both areas, there are indications that imported waste had been a major source of contamination. It is hoped that now that Thailand has ratified the Ban Amendment, such exports and their impacts will no longer be possible.
The NGOs, Basel Action Network, Arnika Association and EARTH, are likewise calling for Thailand to prohibit the import of Basel's Annex II list (waste for special consideration) which will likewise ban the import of mixed and contaminated plastic wastes, non-hazardous electronic wastes, and household trash. They are also calling for each of these waste import prohibitions to be codified into national law so illegal traffic can be properly prosecuted.
"Thailand's ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment is a significant step towards ending much of the waste export scourge, and we commend the Thai government for taking this vital step," said Punyathorn Jeungsmarn from EARTH. "Now, it is important to add the problematic wastes in Annex II to the prohibition. In terms of implementation, relevant agencies must also improve their capacities to apprehend and prosecute illegally imported waste, ensure that they are sent back to countries of origins, and compensation and restoration be made to communities affected by imported toxic waste in accordance with environmental justice."
"All Basel Parties and non-Parties such as the United States must now cease their efforts to flood Thailand, and indeed all of Southeast Asia with toxic and problematic wastes, such as plastic and electronic wastes," said Jim Puckett, Executive Director of Basel Action Network, a global waste trade watchdog organization. "Today, Thailand has sent a strong and crystal-clear message -- Asia will no longer be a dumping ground for the effluent of the affluent countries."
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