Thailand Redirects 12,000 Tonnes of Imported Plastic Scrap and E-Waste

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Several containers loaded with plastic scrap and electronic waste will be redirected to posts of origin, after importers failing to accept the loads by passing through customs clearance procedures on time. The total weight of rejected imports amounts to approximately 12,000 tonnes, sources said.

According to Thailand Customs Department laws, those containers which fail to pass the clearance procedure within 30 days are classified as under A-list. The consignments under this list will be granted additional 15 days for clearance. If the importers fail to clear the load even after the additional time period of 15 days, they will be classified as F-list. The containers which fall into F-list will be redirected to respective port of origin, said department spokesman Chaiyut Khamkhun. Last week, Thailand Customs had redirected 54 containers in F-list, mainly to ports in the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore.

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Currently, 675 containers loaded with plastic scrap and e-waste are in A-list. Nearly 600 containers carrying 12,000 tonnes of plastic scrap and e-waste in F-list will be redirected, officials said. Altogether, the Customs Department holds 2,185 cargo containers-2,100 carrying plastic waste and the remaining 85 containing e-waste.

Following dumping of waste by world countries, Thailand’s Department of Industrial Works (DIW) had imposed total ban on imports of plastic, electronic and hazardous waste into the country with effect from July 2, 2018. It had also ordered inspection of recycling factories across the nation, following which license of five factories were suspended on charges of illegal imports of scrap.  

As per estimates, the country has imported approximately 37,000 tons of e-waste and 120,000 tons of plastic waste so far this year. The imports of plastic waste had totaled 161,000 tonnes in 2017.