In a large storage facility located in eastern Thailand, close to a significant highway, government inspector Thitipas Choddaechachainun carefully scrutinizes heaps of disposed electronics—circuit boards, metal scraps, and obsolete computer parts. Every week, she and her team from the Thai Ministry of Industry explore unauthorized sites managing electronic waste, gathering samples for lab analysis and regulatory compliance.
Choddaechachainun heads a committed team focused on tackling the nation’s escalating issue with electronic waste, also known as e-waste. Even with regular checks and operations on these unauthorized facilities—many of which are concealed in remote areas to evade attention—the magnitude of the issue keeps growing.
Thailand is facing the impact of changes in worldwide electronic waste distribution. In the past, nations such as China managed most of the electronic discards from richer economies, notably the United States and those in the European Union. This shifted in 2018 when China enacted a prohibition on importing e-waste, causing exporters to find new destinations in Southeast Asia, with Thailand being one of them.
In response, Thailand imposed its own ban on e-waste imports in 2020. But the results have been far from reassuring. According to Earth Thailand, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, e-waste imports have skyrocketed from approximately 3,000 tonnes annually before the Chinese ban to around 60,000 tonnes today.
This influx is partly fueled by high turnover rates in electronic devices among Western consumers. Frequent upgrades to smartphones, laptops, and other electronic goods—combined with widespread ownership of large household appliances—generate substantial waste. Although international regulations aim to prevent the export of hazardous waste to developing nations, loopholes remain. For example, shipments are often misdeclared as used electronics meant for resale, only to be dismantled and smelted upon arrival.
The process of recycling comes with considerable environmental hazards. When e-waste reaches Thailand, it is broken down and melted to recover precious materials, including copper and gold. Although this recovery technique is lucrative, it releases hazardous materials like mercury and lead, polluting the air, soil, and water.
Thai authorities estimate that most of the recovered metals are sent to China, leaving behind the environmental and social toll.
Thai Industry Minister Akanat Promphan addresses the impact of these activities. He emphasizes that the illegal recycling industry does not contribute positively to the nation’s economy and instead negatively affects local habitats and communities. His ministry has launched an intensified initiative to shut down unauthorized operations and eliminate foreign-owned facilities involved in illegal actions.
Thailand is regarded as a dumping ground, Promphan observes. “We are dealing with an international waste management practice that provides no benefit to our country and leads to considerable damage.”
The harmful effects reach ordinary people such as Seng Wongsena, a 57-year-old agricultural worker in eastern Thailand. He asserts that contaminated runoff from a nearby smelting plant has negatively impacted his cassava crop, and the odor of burning waste disturbs his rest at night. Community activists argue that the smelting operation lacks proper authorization and are urging government officials to take action.
At an international scale, the results are concerning. The United Nations reports that over 60 million tonnes of electronic waste are generated globally each year—twice the figure recorded 15 years ago. Forecasts suggest this volume could grow by over 30% by the end of the decade.
Despite the alarming increase, only about 20% of global e-waste is recycled through responsible and sustainable channels. The rest ends up in landfills or is processed in unsafe conditions, often in countries with limited regulatory oversight.
Several countries have implemented laws concerning extended producer responsibility, which make producers responsible for the disposal of their products at the end of their life cycles. Firms like Apple, Samsung, and Dell are being encouraged to create mechanisms for taking back and recycling their products.
Thailand is evaluating a comparable legal framework, with the goal of bolstering local enforcement and decreasing unlawful practices associated with electronic waste management. Promphan is hopeful about its enforcement in the future.
“I’m hopeful that we will pass this new law soon—either by the end of this year or early next year,” he says. “We need comprehensive action to eliminate this illicit industry and protect our people and environment.”
As Thailand advances with legislative changes and strengthens oversight, these efforts symbolize a minor part of a broader global challenge. Handling electronic waste requires international cooperation, well-defined supply chains, and collaboration between users and manufacturers. Without significant change, the environmental repercussions of our technology-driven era could outweigh its benefits.
