Court orders Win Process to pay 1.7 billion baht for environmental restoration

EARTH REPORT 2 September 2567 

Rayong Provincial Court has ordered the Win Process Company, a hazardous waste recycling company based in Rayong province, Thailand, to pay 1.7 billion baht (nearly US$50 million) in environmental damages. The case was sued by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) in a civil lawsuit after the agency found that since the recycling plant of the company started its operation in 2011, hazardous substances had accumulated inside and outside the factory.

PCD found that the plant’s wells were highly acidic and contaminated with heavy metals, which had leaked to the outside environment. As a result, the surface water near the factory had high acidity, heavy metal contamination, and volatile organic compounds. 

After hearing today’s verdict, Sanit Maneesri, a Nong Phawa villager, expressed that the villagers are satisfied with the ruling. It clearly confirmed that the company had violated the laws and must pay for damages. 

Nevertheless, he pointed out that the enforcement of today’s court order remains to be seen. He mentioned the previous court case in 2022 that Nong Phawa villagers sued the company demanding environmental restoration and compensation for agricultural losses, and the court had ordered the company to pay 20 million baht in compensation. Despite this, the local people have yet to receive any money.

Listen to the interview of Sanit Maneesri (in Thai) at https://tinyurl.com/3symzs2f

Read the report in Thai by EARTH at https://tinyurl.com/54afut8p

Photo by Naratip Thongtanom, EARTH Thailand