Materials News
Thailand breaking the cycle of plastic waste pollution From increasing its recycling efforts to producing more bioplastics, Thailand is pulling out all the stops to reduce its plastic waste, says Angelica Buan in this report.
A
2016 marine litter report released by Ocean Conservancy implicated Thailand among one of the top environmental offenders that contributed more than half of the global plastic waste leakage. Industrial and household wastes continue to outpace the country’s capacity to recycle. The Ministry of Natural Resources has emphasised on the country’s efforts to increase its recycling rates recently. Thailand generates an estimated 2 million tonnes/year of plastic waste but recycled only a quarter to 500,000 tonnes of these wastes. Adding to the burden of piling up locally generated plastic waste is the imported waste, mostly from the UK, Japan and the US. In the first half of last year, Thailand´s plastic waste imports rose in light of China’s prior ban on importing waste. Given this, Thailand is now aiming to impose a total ban on imported plastic wastes by 2021.
Ultimately, Thailand wants to increase the use of recycled plastics and by 2027, it aims to utilise plastic waste for fuel. By 2030, the country would have achieved its target of 100% plastic recycling. Recycled plastics in the agenda The roadmap has received support from various sectors in the plastics industry as well as among recyclers. Suez, a French waste expert, is building a recycling plant that turns plastic waste into polymers, in Bang Phli district, near Bangkok.
Suez is building a recycling plant that turns plastic waste into polymers, in Bang Phli district, near Bangkok
Thailand generates an estimated 2 million tonnes/year of plastic waste but recycled only a quarter to 500,000 tonnes of these wastes
On top of that, Thailand also aims to lead in sustainability efforts in the Southeast Asian region w i t h i t s 2 0 - y e a r P l a s t i c Wa s t e M a n a g e m e n t r o a d map, which kick started in 2018. Targeting single-use plastics, Thailand seeks to ban three types of plastics: microbeads, cap seals and oxodegradable by end of this year. Four other single-use plastics, such as lightweight plastic bags less than 36 microns thick, styrofoam food containers, plastic cups, and plastic straws, are due to be banned by 2022.
6
OCTOBER 2019
According to Suez, the plant will convert 30,000 tonnes/year of locally collected PE film waste into high quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic for the plastic industry. The plant will be equipped with an advanced water treatment system that minimises water usage and will meet the highest level of local environmental standards, the company said. And to further improve the site’s environmental footprint, the plant will be using energy powered by roof-top solar panels. Construction works are expected to be completed by mid-2020. Since 2017, the company has won the contracts in the region: to build an industrial waste-to-energy plant in Thailand, as well as extend the Medan drinking water production plant in Indonesia and enhance sanitation services in Hau Giang in Vietnam. New recycling solution to produce useful plastics To tackle plastic recyclability in Thailand, US chemicals company Dow and the chemicals business of Thailand’s SCG are collaborating to develop new recycling solutions to add value to plastic waste and prevent them from ending up in the environment.