News

ONLINE PANEL DISCUSSION 26 September 2021

In 2018, Southeast Asia became the world’s top destinations for waste exports after China’s waste import bans, leading to a sharp rise in illegal recycling facilities as well as illegal dumpsites, causing land, water and air pollution that has affected several communities across the region. Allegations of malfeasance, misconduct, and corruption abound.

Panelists:

• Daru Setyorini, Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation (ECOTON), Indonesia

• Pua Lay Peng, Kuala Langal Environmental Action Organization (PTASKL), Malaysia

• Akarapon Teebthaisong, Ecological Alert and Recovery - Thailand (EARTH)

Moderated by Wong Pui Yi, The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Malaysia

EARTH REPORT  21 September 2021 

EARTH’s initial fieldwork at industrial waste covert dumping site in Lopburi found widespread chemical leakage with VOC level reaching the highest limit of portable air detector. More samples are being collected for further analysis.

Following last week’s reports of covert dumping of industrial wastes in Phatthana Nikhom District, Lopburi province, technical officers from Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH) investigated the two dumping sites and collected environmental samples for analysis.

Bangkok Post 27 August 2021 | Punyathorn Jeungsmarn and Penchom Saetang*  

Last Monday, members of the Anti-Plastic Scrap Citizen's Network submitted a petition to the environmental minister. The petition demanded the government impose a ban on the import of plastic scrap by the end of this year.

Bangkok Tribune 25 August 2021

The import of “plastic waste” would hamper the state’s efforts to tackle plastic waste in the country while jeopardizing the local recycling business, the group reasons.

The network, led by EARTH and the Saleng and Junk Shop Association, has submitted a letter to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment calling for an end of the plastic waste import by this year. Over 108 CSOs and 32,000 supporters have signed through an online campaign in support of their move.

EARTH REPORT 23 August 2021 

The network of 108 CSOs and environmental groups led by EARTH and the Saleng and Junk Shop Association submitted a letter to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment calling for an end to plastic waste imports by 2021.

Bangkok Post 06 August 2021  

Don't postpone ban, green groups ask

More than 100 environmental groups have called on the government to prohibit the import of plastic waste and instead encourage the use of domestic plastic waste for recycling as a way to safeguard the environment and promote the circular economy.

Press Release 04 August 2021 | EARTH

While governments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have individually taken action to address incidents of illegal waste shipments from affluent and more developed countries, the 10-member bloc has yet to unify and boost up efforts to protect the region from the drawbacks and hazards of the global waste trade.

Bangkok Post 02 August 2021 | Suwitcha Chaiyong

Environmental groups are urging the Thai government to stop importing other countries' toxic garbage

"E-waste contains heavy metals and plastic, which contain toxic components. If waste management is not controlled properly, hazardous components, which contain carcinogens, can be released into the environment," said Penchom Saetang, director of Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (EARTH).

Thai PBS World 13 July 2021

Thailand’s Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has been urged, by an environmental advocacy group known as Ecological Alert and Recovery – Thailand (EARTH), to investigate why Ming Dih Chemical, whose factory exploded last week, was allowed to increase its production capacity of Styrofoam pellets, despite the fact that it is surrounded by communities and is not far from Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

PRESS CONFERENCE (in Thai): 13 July 2021 | Organised by EARTH

You are invited for the press conference organised by EARTH. We will submit the demand to the Minister of Industry to prosecute the offenders in the case of the chemical explosion and a fire at the factory of #MingDih Chemical Co., Ltd. which caused death and more than 60 people injured. Moreover, it incident also caused toxic pollution in a large area and damaged houses and people's properties the nearby neighbourhood.