US e-waste intercepted at Bangkok port
Thai officials said they have seized 238 tonnes of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year.
The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found in a random inspection on Tuesday.
A UN report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tonnes of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030.
It added that only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, and the quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles and inadequate management infrastructure.
Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including for falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin.
'It's important that we take action on this kind of goods,' he said. 'There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling.'
Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of e-waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste.
Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected two factories in Samut Sakhon province are involved in importing the waste. — AP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Thailand 'deeply saddened' by death of Gaza hostage, says foreign ministry
Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday it was "deeply saddened" by the death of a Thai hostage in Gaza whose body was retrieved by Israeli forces. Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said in a video statement the ministry "is deeply saddened to announce that today, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv was informed by a representative of the Israeli government that Mr Nattapong Pinta, the last Thai hostage, has been confirmed dead." An Israeli military statement, which gave his name as Natthapong Pinta, said on Saturday its forces retrieved his body from the Rafah area of southern Gaza. It said he was taken alive as a hostage during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and "was murdered while in captivity". The Israeli military statement blamed the Mujahideen Brigades, an armed group close to Hamas ally Islamic Jihad. Nikorndej said Nattapong was one of three Thais held hostage in Gaza. The other two were confirmed dead in 2024 but Nikorndej said Israel has "not yet been able to retrieve their corpses". He said the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv has contacted Nattapong's family to inform them and would work with the Israeli side to return his body to Thailand as soon as possible. Nikorndej said the ministry "expresses its deepest condolences to Nattapong's family". - AFP
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Thailand closes two border crossings to tourists after Cambodia clash
BANGKOK: Thailand temporarily closed two of its border crossings with Cambodia to tourists on Saturday after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a recent military clash between the two uneasy neighbours. There has been sporadic violence between the two Southeast Asian neighbours since fighting first broke out in 2008, resulting in at least 28 deaths. A Cambodian soldier was killed in the most recent outbreak on May 28 in an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian militaries agreed to ease tensions the following day but Cambodia then said it would keep its troops in the area, despite Thailand urging it to withdraw. The Royal Thai Army took control of the 'opening and closing' of all border crossings it shares with Cambodia on Saturday, citing a 'threat to Thailand's sovereignty and security'. Authorities in Thailand's eastern province of Chanthaburi said in a statement on Saturday they had 'temporarily suspended' crossings by Thai and Cambodian tourists at two permanent border checkpoints. It said trade remained unaffected and Cambodian workers were still permitted to enter Thailand. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai said in a statement on Saturday it was 'deeply regrettable' that Cambodia had 'rejected' the proposal to withdraw its armed forces. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Monday the kingdom would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the border dispute. The ICJ ruled in 2013 following years of violence that the disputed area belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand says it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction. Thai authorities said a Joint Boundary Committee would meet next week to resolve the issue.
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Thailand closes two border crossings to tourists after Cambodia clash
BANGKOK: Thailand temporarily closed two of its border crossings with Cambodia to tourists on Saturday after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a recent military clash between the two uneasy neighbours. There has been sporadic violence between the two neighbours since fighting first broke out in 2008, resulting in at least 28 deaths. A Cambodian soldier was killed in the most recent outbreak on May 28 in an area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos meet. The Thai and Cambodian militaries agreed to ease tensions the following day, but Cambodia then said it would keep its troops in the area, despite Thailand urging it to withdraw. The Royal Thai Army took control of the "opening and closing" of all border crossings it shares with Cambodia on Saturday, citing a "threat to Thailand's sovereignty and security". Authorities in Thailand's eastern province of Chanthaburi said in a statement on Saturday they had "temporarily suspended" crossings by Thai and Cambodian tourists at two permanent border checkpoints. It said trade remained unaffected and Cambodian workers were still permitted to enter Thailand. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai said in a statement on Saturday it was "deeply regrettable" that Cambodia had "rejected" the proposal to withdraw its armed forces. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Monday the kingdom would file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the border dispute. The ICJ ruled in 2013 following years of violence that the disputed area belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand says it does not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction. Thai authorities said a Joint Boundary Committee would meet next week to resolve the issue.
