Officials say more than 200 tons of illegal imported electronic waste exists in Thailand

Thai officials said on Wednesday that they seized 238 tons of illegal importers Electronic waste From the United States in Bangkok Port, one of the largest pieces they found this year.

Theraj Athavanich, Director General of the Customs Department, said that the waste, which came in 10 large containers, was announced as a mixed metal scet containing aluminum, copper and iron, but it was found that they are mixed circuit boards in a huge pile of metal scrap.

Officials said that electronic waste-which is classified as dangerous waste under the Basel Agreement on controlling and disposing of dangerous waste movements-was found on Tuesday after the 40-foot containers became a routine random inspection.

The Basel Convention is an international treaty signed in 1989 aimed at dealing with dangerous waste that flows into developing countries such as The costs of disposal have grown Along with the amount of waste.

The United Nations report said last year that electronic waste is accumulating all over the world. The report said that about 62 million tons of electronic waste was created in 2022 and this number is on the right path to reach 82 million tons by 2030. Only 22 % of the waste was correctly collected and recycled in 2022, and this amount is expected to decrease to 20 % by the end of the contract due to high consumption, repair options limited, shorter product life courses, and insufficient Management infrastructure.

Theraaj said that the Thai authorities are looking for press fees, including the advertisement, falsely for imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to re -export waste to its country of origin.

“It is important to take measures on this type of goods,” he said. “There are environmental effects that are dangerous on people, especially societies around factories that may import these things for treatment, then recycling.”

Electronic waste creates huge Health risks. Many ingredients are loaded with bullets, mercury, cadmium and other toxins. Recycling is recycled after gold, silver, lyolium, and copper, especially from the printed circles panels, however LAX controls It means that facilities often burn plastic materials to release covered copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals.

Thailand issued a ban on the import of a group of electronic waste products in 2020. In February, the Treasury agreed to an extensive list of banned waste.

Senthron KowSawang, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry Works, said officials suspected of at least two factories in Samut Sakhon, which borders Bangkok, are involved in importing waste. Last year, Thai officials found thousands of tons of smuggled cadmium in the province. Thai PBS I mentioned.

The population was found near the area later with high levels of toxic metal in their urine, according to the report. Cadium can cause influenza -like symptoms, including chills, fever and muscle pain, according to the occupational safety and health management in the United States. Long -term exposure can lead to cancer, kidneys, bones and lung.

In January, the Ministry of Customs said it had seized 256 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from Japan and Hong Kong in a port in East Thailand.

I was accompanying

He contributed to this report.