Thailand shipping 196 tonnes of hazardous waste back to Japan
BANGKOK, Thailand (Xinhua) — Thai Department of Industrial Works Friday held an event to send more than 190 tonnes of electronic waste back to Japan.
The hazardous waste was found in seven containers and seized two years ago.
Sukda Punkla, deputy permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, said 196 tonnes of hazardous electronic and electrical waste were found illegally imported through Laem Chabang Port in east Thailand in August 2014. They will be shipped back to Japan and are expected to arrive on August 7.
Accompanied by senior officials from the Department of Industrial Works, the department of pollution control, the Customs Department, and Laem Chabang port and cargo terminal operators, Sukda led an inspection on the containers last Thursday.
The seven containers contained electrical waste, which is listed as dangerous under the Hazardous Substance Act, which requires importers to seek permission from authorities before bringing it into the country. An eighth container contained scrap metal, copper and aluminum was declared.
Sukda unveiled that it was the first time that Thailand was returning hazardous waste to the country of origin under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.
Japan’s Ministry of the Environment will take legal action against those involved in exporting the waste to Thailand, Sukda said, noting that Japan had agreed to accept the return of the shipment.
Under the Basel Convention, Thai and Japanese governments should make a joint effort to tackle the smuggling of hazardous waste.
