Bangkok(VNA/NNT) – The Thai government has affirmed its plan to prohibit plastic scrapimports by 2025, with the ban to be implemented in stages over the next threeyears.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa made theannouncement while chairing a meeting of a subcommittee on plastic andelectronic waste management. The meeting was held to discuss the productioncapacity of plastic scrap-related factories and banning the import of plasticscrap for raw materials in the industrial sector.

Varawut said the ban, which had been considered since 2020, seeks to ridThailand of plastic waste in a major step towards ensuring public safety andprotecting the environment.

He added that the panel agreed that 14 plants located in free trade zones wouldbe authorized to import plastic scrap until 2024. This would be carried out andlimited in two phases, with the first phase commencing in 2023 to limit theamount of imported scrap based on actual production capacities. The secondphase will begin the year after when just 50% of imports will be permitted,followed by a comprehensive prohibition at all plants in 2025.

According to the minister, Thailand produces 24.98 million tonnes ofresidential garbage annually, of which only 32% is treated efficiently.

Varawut also said the government will continue to promote a campaign to reducethe use of single-use plastic bags at department and convenience stores, citingthe program’s ability to reduce plastic bag usage by 43% or 150,000 tonnes overthe last two years./.