EARTH (Plenary lecture)

[21101-05-04] An Overview of Hazardous and Industrial Waste Management in Thailand

○Petchporn Chawakitchareon¹ (1. Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)

Keywords:Hazardous Waste Management, Industrial Waste, Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility, Generation, Treatment, Disposal, Thailand

The production of hazardous waste and industrial waste has increased progressively in Thailand during the past decade and is now a major environmental problem. With the growth of Thailand’s economy towards industrialization, the number of industries that produce hazardous wastes, in particular, has increased systematically and at a faster rate. From the statistical records of the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), the number of factories in the country increased rapidly from 86,000 to 104,996 during 1989–1996 and 126,804-138,083 during 2007-2016. Hazardous wastes include hazardous waste from the community, hazardous wastes from industries, and infectious wastes. In 2016, it was estimated that 3.462 million tons of hazardous wastes were generated nationwide, increased by 0.017 million tons or 0.49% from 2015. Most of the hazardous wastes generated were from industrial activities at 2.8 million tons (80%), with 0.606 million tons (18%) from the community (including Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment), and 0.056 million tons (2%) infectious wastes. The Department of Industrial Works (DIW), which has full responsibility for the control of all factory pollution problems, has initiated a joint hazardous waste treatment facility for handling industrial liquid, sludge and solid hazardous wastes from all factories situated in and around Bangkok and the eastern seaboard region. The first hazardous waste treatment facility was operated since 1988 at Samae Dam, Bangkhuntien District, a western suburb of Bangkok. At present, the operation and management of the center is handled by a private contractor, The General Environmental Conservation Public Company (GENCO). Nowadays various hazardous waste treatment facilities are available in Thailand i.e. Better World Green, Professional Waste Technology, Eco-Siam, Recycle Engineering etc. Notification of Ministry of Industry: Industrial Waste Disposal B.E. 2548 (2005) and other related laws are apply to all industries. However, the problems and challenges of hazardous waste management in Thailand can be overcome with an integrated and coordinated effort by the government, the private sector, and the community. A strategy for the future must be formulated to incorporate technologies that are developed on the principles of waste minimization and sustainable development, as well as the involvement of the private and public sectors.