News

Bangkok post 11 July 2021 | Pratch Rujivanarom

Hazardous substance laws have barely improved since last tragedy

Thirty years after the deadly blast at a chemical storage venue at Klong Toey Port, the recent explosion at a plastic pellets factory is a wakeup call that Thailand's laws to regulate hazardous substances have not improved much from three decades ago, academics say.

EARTH 25 June 2021

Representatives from environmental NGO Ecological Alert Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) submitted letters to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and the Minister of Industry, calling on the Thai government to ratify the Basel Convention Ban Amendment, which will end the imports of toxic plastic wastes and e-wastes into the country and for government agencies to strictly regulate dirty recycling industries that cause pollution.

Thai PBS World 17 June 2021

Pollution Control Department is demanding that a hazardous waste processing and recycling company in Rayong province pay compensation of more than 1.3 billion baht for damage caused to the environment and a community near its factory within 15 days, or face litigation.

Founded in 2010, Win Process engages in the business of sorting and recycling hazardous waste. Its factory is located in Village 4, Bang But sub-district of Ban Khai district of Rayong province.

PRESS RELEASE | EARTH  07 June 2021

The villagers of Nong Phawa sue Win Process company for releasing pollutants into local waterways, causing widespread damage to local environments and farmlands. The villagers demand polluters compensate for the damage they cause and be held responsible for restoring the environment to its original condition.

Bangkok Tribune 05 June 2021  

In recognition of World Environment Day, global anti-hazardous waste campaigners from EARTH and Czech based Arnika have called for an end to global hazardous waste exports and  recycling industries which they brand as “dirty” through the “universal” ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment

4 June 2021 | Press release of Arnika and EARTH 

BANGKOK/PRAGUE – In recognition of World Environment Day 2021, the NGOs EARTH (1,3) and Arnika (2,3) have called for an end to hazardous waste exports and dirty recycling industries through the universal ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment (4). As the world enters the UN decade of ecosystem restoration, pollution from dirty recycling continues to devastate local environments and health around the world. Without universal ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment, this problem will continue.

Special Report by EARTH | October 2020

On April 11, 2017, the "Nam Pu subdistrict" made headlines in many media outlets as three local representatives from Nam Pu subdistrict, Muang district, in Ratchaburi province, filed a lawsuit against the Wax Garbage Recycle Center Company Limited for violating the Environmental Quality and Promotion Act 1992. The company has operated nine factories, along with a recycling shop called “Pong Charoen”, within a total area of approximately 300 rai (one rai is equal to 0.16 hectares) located next to Nam Pu creek, which is the main water source for the local people in Nam Pu subdistrict and the vicinity for both household consumption and agricultural purposes.

PRESS RELEASE: IPEN & NTN | 27 April 2021

Escalating Chemical Production Threatens Aquatic Food Chain

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN - Increasing levels of chemical and plastic pollution are major contributors to declines in the world’s fish populations and other aquatic organisms, according to a new report released today. The report is the first to bring together in one place the latest scientific research demonstrating how chemical pollution is adversely impacting the aquatic food chain that supports all life on earth.

EARTH & ARNIKA 06 April 2021

BANGKOK / PRAGUE - Pollution of air, soil and food chain reach extreme levels in Thailand, as shown by the long term measurements conducted by environmental organizations Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (EARTH) and Arnika ⁽¹⁾. NGOs and communities affected now ask the authorities to introduce a mandatory system to monitor emissions of harmful substances from industrial plants and factories. Data should be reported in a Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) - an effective mechanism of public control that has proved its worth in reducing pollution in European countries and has contributed to the safety of communities.

Bangkok Post 28 February 2021 | Nicha Wachpanich

Long-running environmental saga no closer to a happy resolution

Pollution in Klity Creek in the deep forest of Kanchanaburi province has been a health and environmental threat for villagers who relied for water consumption for decades. Three years ago, authorities launched a cleanup -- the first state-supervised environmental cleanup in Thailand. This series aims to explore how it is going.