Why your old mobile phone may be polluting Thailand

Thailand is facing a serious problem with electronic waste, or e-waste, which includes old mobile phones, computers, and other gadgets that people throw away. Thitipas Choddaechachainun leads a team from the Thai industry ministry that inspects recycling plants in eastern Thailand. These inspectors visit large warehouses filled with piles of scrap metal, circuit boards, and old electronics. They collect samples to check if the waste is being handled properly. Thitipas says that many of these recycling plants do not have the proper licenses, and this issue is getting worse in Thailand.

In the past, China was the main country that received e-waste from around the world, especially from Western countries like the United States and those in Europe. People in these countries often upgrade their electronics and throw away the old ones. However, in 2018, China banned the import of e-waste, so shippers started sending it to other countries, including Thailand. Thailand tried to stop this by banning e-waste imports in 2020, but the problem has only grown. According to the environmental group Earth Thailand, the amount of e-waste entering the country has increased from about 3,000 tonnes a year to 60,000 tonnes a year in the last decade.

Some companies try to get around the rules by labeling e-waste as 'second-hand goods for resale,' but when it arrives, it is broken down and recycled in unsafe ways. The process of smelting electronics to recover valuable metals like copper and gold releases dangerous chemicals such as mercury and lead into the environment. This pollution can harm people, plants, and animals. For example, a farmer named Seng Wongsena says that water pollution from a nearby recycling plant has damaged his crops and the smell keeps him awake at night. The Thai government, led by industry minister Akanat Promphan, is cracking down on illegal recycling plants, many of which are owned by foreign companies. Promphan says these businesses do not benefit Thailand and only harm the environment. He is working on new laws to make electronics manufacturers responsible for taking back and safely recycling their products.

The problem of e-waste is not just in Thailand. The United Nations reports that the world produces over 60 million tonnes of e-waste each year, which is double the amount from 15 years ago. This number is expected to rise by more than 30 percent by the end of the decade. Less than a quarter of this waste is recycled responsibly. Some countries have already made laws to force companies like Apple, Samsung, and Dell to take back old gadgets and recycle them safely. Thailand plans to introduce similar laws soon. The fight against e-waste is a global challenge, and Thailand is working hard to protect its people and environment from the dangers of electronic pollution.