EARTH Thailand

23/10/2026

THAILAND & WASTE FACILITIES INSPECTION: Thailand’s Industry Ministry is deploying 50 inspection teams to more than 1,500 waste facilities across five provinces, with factories found operating illegally facing closure, licence revocation and possible further action over their assets.

Authorities had broadened their examination of waste businesses in Prachinburi involving foreign shareholders. They identified 44 legal entities considered higher risk, comprising 41 businesses dealing with non-hazardous waste and three handling hazardous waste.

Authorities are examining their ownership structures, business activities and financial links to determine whether any have violated laws governing foreign business ownership or used Thai nominees to conceal effective foreign control.

The wider inspection campaign will focus on determining whether licensed waste businesses in the five provinces are operating within the conditions of their permits and whether waste is being stored, processed or disposed of through legal channels.

Operators found breaching those conditions could face shutdown orders, licence revocation and other legal action, while authorities seek stronger penalties to make illegal dumping more expensive than proper waste treatment.
Read more: The Nation 23 October 2026
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072653

Thailand is deploying 50 inspection teams to more than 1,500 waste facilities in five provinces, with illegal operators facing closure, licence revocation and possible asset seizures.

23/10/2026

THAILAND & IMPORT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE: The Customs Department has proposed a ban on the import of iron scrap, or a tightening of controls on the import of iron scrap by requiring a certificate from country of origin stating that there is no electronic waste among the iron scrap.

The proposal was raised during discussions with the Pollution Control and Industrial Works departments to prevent the import of industrial and electronic waste being falsely declared as mixed metal.

Customs officials at Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri have recently impounded 14 cargo containers declared as mixed metal. The decision follows raids on the rented warehouses of a company in Rayong province.

Customs officials reported that the 14 containers weighed a total of 323.307 tonnes. Nine containers were bound for warehouses in Rayong and the rest for Prachin Buri.

Panu Limwongyuti, director of the customs office at Laem Chabang port, said that the Based Action Network (BAN) had claimed that 720 cargo containers, alleged to contain industrial waste, had arrived at Laem Chabang.
Read more: Thai PBS World https://www.thaipbsworld.com/around-thailand/571058

The Customs Department has proposed a ban on the import of iron scrap by requiring a certificate from country of origin stating that there is no electronic waste among the iron scrap.

23/10/2026

BAN LEAD PAINT: Given that lead is a toxic substance that impairs the nervous system and child development, prevention should not wait until harm has already occurred. Instead, it must begin with "identifying sources, pinpointing exposure, eliminating or reducing risks, and preventing re-exposure."

INTERNATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK 2026

23/10/2026

THAILAND & HARZADOUS WASTE: Environmental officials have stepped up inspections at an abandoned factory in Samut Sakhon province after roughly 200 tonnes of hazardous aluminium dross were discovered improperly stored both inside and outside the premises.

The inspection followed widespread public concern over potential environmental and health hazards. Aluminium dross, a toxic byproduct of aluminium smelting, can react with moisture to release hazardous ammonia gas.
Read more: Thai PBS World 17 October 2026
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/around-thailand/571211

Environmental officials have stepped up inspections at an abandoned Samut Sakhon factory after discovering nearly 200 tonnes of improperly stored hazardous aluminium dross.

21/10/2026

BAN LEAD PAINT: Lead is a toxic metal that causes adverse effects on both human health and the environment. Lead paint is a major source of childhood lead exposure. The younger the child, the more harmful lead can be.

INTERNATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK 2026
Image courtesy of IPEN

21/10/2026

THAILAND & TOXIC WASTE: Thailand's Pollution Control Department (PCD) confirmed on October 12 that a water sample in Prachin Buri contained 114,860 mg/L of petroleum hydrocarbons.

The highly contaminated sample was collected 65 metres from a leaking embankment at an industrial waste landfill, which is the suspected source of the pollution.

In response to the findings, the PCD is preparing evidence for legal action and plans joint inspections of the facility with the Department of Industrial Works (DIW).

Authorities are also planning further sediment testing and preparing to issue warnings advising local communities against using the contaminated water sources.
Read more: The Nation 13 October 2026 https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072213

Thailand’s pollution agency plans legal action and sediment checks after water contamination near a Prachin Buri industrial waste landfill.

19/10/2026

THAILAND & TOXIC CHEMICAL LEAK: Residents in Prachin Buri are preparing a petition with 1,300 signatures to submit to Thailand's Industry Minister.

The petition demands the closure of a factory and the prompt removal of stockpiled waste from the area.

This action is in response to residents' concerns over wastewater discharges and chemical leaks, referred to as "rainbow water," contaminating water sources and agricultural land.

The petition was prepared as the Industry Minister visited the region to inspect the factories, including Green Environment Technology Co Ltd, following the environmental complaints.
Read more: The Nation 19 October 2026
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072480

Prachin Buri residents demand factory closure and waste removal as Varawut visits, with official findings on pollution complaints still pending.

19/10/2026

INTERNATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK: Ban Lead Paint, Protect Children’s Health – EARTH joins the global effort to prevent lead poisoning
The Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) joins forces with our local and global partners and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) on 18-24 October, to raise awareness on the health effects of lead exposure, to promote the detection and prevention of lead exposure, as well as to advocate for policies and measures to eliminate the use of lead in paints and various other products.

This year’s campaign, themed "From Detection to Prevention," emphasizes the importance of identifying sources of lead exposure so that preventive measures can be taken promptly to reduce health risks – with a particular focus on protecting the health of children.

“Young children and fetuses are at the highest risk from lead exposure.” Even low levels of exposure can impair a child’s brain, nervous system, and overall development – with some of these effects being permanent.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can have severe health consequences for living organisms. Common sources of exposure include lead-contaminated paint used on buildings, household items such as furniture, and various products like children’s toys. Industrial factories represent another significant source of potential exposure, particularly in the sector of industrial waste sorting and recycling.

EARTH is a member of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN: for a toxics-free future). Over the years, IPEN has played a pivotal role in advocating for governments worldwide to adopt robust measures and policies to prevent public exposure to lead and to reduce the use of lead in various products, especially in paints.

For this year’s campaign, the World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing on "detecting and identifying sources of lead exposure" to enable effective preventive measures and the mitigation of health risks – particularly for children and other high-risk populations. Given that lead is a toxic substance that impairs the nervous system and child development, prevention should not wait until harm has already occurred. Instead, it must begin with "identifying sources, pinpointing exposure, eliminating or reducing risks, and preventing re-exposure."

"From detection to prevention, because preventing lead poisoning means protecting children’s brains, health, and future."
Image courtesy of IPEN

19/10/2026

THAILAND & TOXIC CHEMICAL LEAK: Environmental authorities have launched a multi-agency effort to contain an oil slick discovered in Prachin Buri province, acting swiftly to prevent toxic runoff from contaminating local waterways as floodwaters recede.
Read more: Thai PBS World https://www.thaipbsworld.com/around-thailand/571256

Environmental authorities are racing to contain an oil slick in Prachin Buri before receding floodwaters wash toxic runoff into local waterways.

15/10/2026

THAILAND & IMPORTED INDUSTRIAL WASTE: Pollution Control Department officials impounded large quantities of industrial and electronic waste in five warehouses in the Nikhom Pattana district of Rayong province.

They are five of 15 warehouses rented by the ‘Rayong Industrial Company’.

The director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said that the waste includes electric wire, plastic, aluminum scrap, iron scrap, paper scrap, and electronic circuits. Shredding and crushing machines and a vibration separator were also found in the warehouses.

Samples of the waste and wastewater from a treatment pond have been taken for laboratory tests and analysis.

Officials had found a lot of imported industrial waste in warehouse 8, with paperwork specifying the weight of the cargo inside the container and the country of origin.
Read more: Thai PBS World October 2026
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/around-thailand/570960

Officials have impounded a large quantity of industrial and electronic waste from five warehouses in Rayong's Nikhom Pattana district.