Thailand Cracks Down on International E-Waste Networks

MGR Online•Economy•18m ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai government has integrated five ministries to combat the illegal import and dumping of electronic waste and industrial waste.

•Five ministries are collaborating to crack down on international E-Waste and industrial waste networks.
•A special task force inspected 752 factories between November 2-9, 2026, finding 375 in violation of factory laws.
•The Ministry of Industry aims to inspect 3,049 factories nationwide by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
•The Committee for Solving Electronic Waste Problems was appointed by the Prime Minister to lead the integration.

Overview

•Supajee Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, announced the government's push to eliminate E-Waste and industrial waste smuggling and the use of nominees to avoid legal action.
•The government has integrated the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Industry to enforce laws.
•Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, deployed over 50 special task force teams to inspect factories in categories 105 and 106.
•From November 2-9, 2026, inspections of 752 factories led to 470 administrative orders, with 375 factories found violating the law.
•A factory in Chachoengsao province was ordered closed and its license revoked after violating a suspension order and tampering with official seals.
•Raweewan Puridet, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, stated that Suchart Chomklin appointed a working group to set criteria for importing scrap iron, aluminum, and copper.
•Between 2025-2026, illegal dumping of industrial waste and E-Waste was found in Prachinburi, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong.
•The government will report progress to the Prime Minister every 15 days to ensure continuous implementation of measures.

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Key Entities

Person

Supajee Suthamphan(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce who chairs the Committee for Solving Electronic Waste Problems.

Varawut Silpa-archa(วราวุธ ศิลปอาชา)ℹ️

Minister of Industry who established the special task force for factory inspections.

Raweewan Puridet(รวีวรรณ ภูริเดช)

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Suchart Chomklin(สุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)ℹ️

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment who appointed a working group on scrap metal import criteria.

Ponyot Klankrong(พรยศ กลั่นกรอง)

Director General of the Department of Industrial Works and Secretary of the Committee for Solving Electronic Waste Problems.

Organization

Committee for Solving Electronic Waste Problems(คณะกรรมการแก้ไขปัญหาขยะอิเล็กทรอนิกส์)

A committee appointed by the Prime Minister to drive integrated cooperation across five ministries to solve E-Waste issues.

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️

One of the five main ministries collaborating to stop the E-Waste problem.

Ministry of Finance(กระทรวงการคลัง)ℹ️

One of the five main ministries collaborating to stop the E-Waste problem.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

One of the five main ministries collaborating to stop the E-Waste problem.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

One of the five main ministries collaborating to stop the E-Waste problem.

Ministry of Industry(กระทรวงอุตสาหกรรม)ℹ️

One of the five main ministries collaborating to stop the E-Waste problem, responsible for factory inspections.

Department of Industrial Works(กรมโรงงานอุตสาหกรรม)

The agency whose registry is used to identify legal and illegal factories.

Federation of Thai Industries(สภาอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

An organization collaborating with the government to consider scrap metal import measures.

Place

Chachoengsao(ฉะเชิงเทรา)ℹ️

A pilot province where illegal E-Waste activity and a closed aluminum smelting factory were found.

Samut Prakan(สมุทรปราการ)ℹ️

A pilot province for factory inspections.

Rayong(ระยอง)ℹ️

A pilot province for factory inspections and an area where illegal dumping has been found.

Prachinburi(ปราจีนบุรี)ℹ️

An area where illegal industrial waste dumping was found between 2025-2026.

Chonburi(ชลบุรี)ℹ️

An area where illegal industrial waste dumping was found between 2025-2026.

Bangkok(กรุงเทพฯ)ℹ️

An area where factories were inspected by the special task force.