Thai National Deputy Police Chief Wirachai Songmetta, centre with white gloves, law-enforcement officers and journalists walk past a pile of mobile batteries during a recent raid in Bangkok. (Photo: AP) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand will ban imports of all kinds of electronic and plastic wastes to ensure protection of the environment, said a government official.
The country will ban the imports of 411 types of electronic waste, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Kanchanarat said, adding the import of plastic wastes will be totally banned in the next two years.
However exceptions will include imports of used electronic telecommunication products and copying machines for repair and reuse.
Besides, steel, copper and aluminium scraps can still be imported for industrial use on the condition that these metal scraps must be clean and not be mixed with other substances, the minister said.
He said the ban of electronic waste will affect recycling businesses but it was vital to implement the law now as he does not want to see Thailand becoming a world's garbage bin.
The environment and public health must come before profit-making and industrial development, Minister Surasak stressed.
The resolution came after several related agencies converged to discuss issues in resolving environmental problems created by electronic and plastic wastes in Thailand.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has asked the Industry Ministry and Commerce Ministry to issue a ministerial regulation to make the provisions of the resolution a law.-VNA
VNA
