Thailand has comprehensive action plans and roadmaps to tackle marine plastic litter, which indicates the country’s serious intention to combat this global issue. In May 2016, the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2016–2021) was created, and the responsibility for its implementation handed over to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Interior. Table 1 lists the waste management targets in the master plan.
Table 1. Items and Targets on Waste Management
Item | Targets | By Year |
|---|---|---|
Municipal solid waste | Properly manage more than 75% of total amount of municipal solid waste | 2021 |
Properly manage the 100% accumulated municipal solid waste generated in 2015 | 2019 | |
Engage more than 50% of total local authorities to conduct waste segregation at source | 2021 | |
Industrial waste | Properly manage 100% of industrial waste | 2020 |
Hazardous waste | Collect and properly dispose of more than 30% of total household hazardous waste | 2021 |
Properly manage 100% of infectious medical waste | 2020 |
Source: Pollution Control Department (2016); Akenji et al. (2019).
To support the implementation of the master plan, authorities have developed follow-up actions, including activities, plans, and/or roadmaps. Table 2 lists follow-up actions in support of the master plan.
Table 2. Follow-up Actions to Support the Master Plan
Action | Year | Aims | Authority in Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
Establish the ‘Thailand Zero Waste Action Plan (2016–2017)’ | 2016 | Achieve short-term targets:
| Department of Local Administration |
Establish the ‘Plastic Debris Management Plan (2017–2021)’ | 2017 | Introduce and encourage environment-friendly design for packaging and plastic substitution; develop material flow for plastic packaging; implement 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) strategy; and enhance education for relevant stakeholders | Pollution Control Department |
Establish the ‘National Roadmap for Development of Bioplastic Industry’ | 2017 | Design easily degradable plastic for marketing production and to make the country a bioplastic hub | Ministry of Industry |
Establish the National Reform Committee including Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Environment Reform | 2017 | Address the issue of marine debris under a steering group | Government of Thailand |
Formulate the 2018 Municipal Solid Waste Management Action Plan | 2018 | Set targets by 2018:
| Department of Local Administration |
Establish three working groups under the Plastic Waste Management Subcommittee of the National Environment Board | 2018 | Guide the development of policies on reducing unnecessary packaging and products. Each working group shall have different responsibilities: one to develop plastic management mechanisms, one to conduct promotion and public relations, and one to develop and utilise plastic waste | Government of Thailand |
Completely prohibit the use of plastic bags in the 30 hospitals under the Department of Medical Services | 2018 | Reduce single plastic use | Department of Medical Services (Ministry of Public Health) |
Conduct relevant campaigns in 7,000 locations nationwide | 2018 | Involve schools, government offices, department stores, convenience stores, and open markets in raising public awareness and education towards marine plastic litter | Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and Ministry of Interior |
Formulate the 10-year plan for plastic and plastic wastes management as the ‘Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030’ | 2019 | Replace plastics with environment-friendly materials under the following policies:
| Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment |
Source: Weerathaworn (2013); Akenji et al. (2019); Wichai-utcha and Chavalparit (2019).
Table 3 lists the step-by-step targets in the ‘Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030’.
Table 3. Detailed Targets in Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030
Target | Time Frame | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | ||||||||||||
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | ||
Ban the use of: | Plastic cap seals | 80% | 100% | |||||||||||
Oxo-degradable plastic products | 100% | |||||||||||||
Microbeads | 100% | |||||||||||||
Lightweight plastic bags (less than 36 microns thick) | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Food containers made from foam | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Single-use plastic cups (less than 100 microns thick) | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Plastic straws (exceptions for children, patients, and the elderly) | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Reuse and recycle (including energy recovery) the targeted plastic waste, including thick plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic bottles, plastic box/tray, plastic film packaging, thick plastic cups, and plastic lids. | 22% | 25% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% | ||||
Source: Pollution Control Department (2018).
Thailand has just finished implementing Phase I of the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2016-2021) with overall satisfactory results. In Phase II of the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2022-2027), measures are being put in place to make more progress in plastic waste management and to improve gaps from previous action plans. The waste management targets in the master plan include increasing properly manage of municipal solid waste to more than 80%, increasing recycle rate of plastic packaging waste to 100%, reducing food waste, increasing the collection and proper disposal of hazardous wastes, and increasing the proper management of industrial waste to 100%. To support these targets, an Action Plan was set up for several activities related to promoting plastic waste management:
1. Waste management at source
Plastic waste
Identify types of recyclable and biodegradable plastic products
Set guidelines for the design and manufacture of plastic products that are environmentally friendly and encourage manufacturers to follow the guidelines
Announce and provide manufacturers with incentives for designing and producing eco-design products
Pilot EPR for targeted plastic products
Organize national and public events
Expand the reduction, disapproval of single-use plastics, and the sorting of plastic waste
Packaging waste
Define packaging types that are limited in recycling/handling
Pilot EPR in targeted products
Set drop-off points for returning packaging product at the community (at government offices, business offices, and other suitable places)
Set guidelines for the design and manufacture of plastic products that are environmentally friendly
Encourage manufacturers to follow the guidelines
2. Development of waste management tools
Establish laws and regulations that support circular economy
Use EPR principles in packaging/product management
Present the legislation to ministerial committees, cabinet and council of state for consideration
Promote the Circular Economy Promotion Act
Promote the utilization of post-consumer recycle (PCR) proportional packaging in household products
Develop a business model for refill stations
Establish regulations for supporting refill station activity
Extend refill station models in public areas (supermarket, convenience store, department store, apartment, etc.)
In November 2021, Thailand passed a resolution agreeing with Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020-2022). Detail targets in the Action Plan are listed in Table 4. This Action Plan has developed measures, plans and projects that establish rules, regulations and procedures, including but not limited, to prevent dumping of waste into the sea and establish guidelines to prevent and address plastic waste issues in the sea for tourism business and marine transportation.
Table 4. Detailed Targets in the Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020–2022)
Indicators | Baseline in 2019 (ton/year) | Target (% or ton/year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||
1. Reduce and stop using targeted single-use plastics. | - | 50% | 75% | 100% |
1.1 Lightweight plastic bags (less than 36 microns thick) | 345,522 | 171,261 | 256,892 | 345,522 |
1.2 Food containers made from foam | 15,176 | 7,588 | 11,382 | 15,176 |
1.3 Single-use plastic cups (less than 100 microns thick) | 22,679 | 11,340 | 17,009 | 22,679 |
1.4 Plastic straws | 3,647 | 1,824 | 2,735 | 3,647 |
2. Recycle at least 50% of targeted plastic waste by applying circular economy principle. Targeted plastic waste includes plastic bag (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PP), single-layer plastic packaging films (HDPE, LL/LDPE), plastic bottle (all kinds), bottle cap, plastic cap, food tray/container, and cutlery. | - | 30% | 40% | 50% |
1,390,865 | 417,260 | 556,364 | 695,433 | |
Source: Pollution Control Department (2021).
The Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020-2022) terminated in 2022. The new Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase II (2023-2027) includes measures, plans and projects that establish rules, regulations and procedures, including but not limited to prevent the dumping of waste into the sea and establish guidelines to prevent and address plastic waste issues in the sea for tourism businesses and marine transportation. The targets in the Action Plan are as follows:
Reduce the amount of plastic waste entering landfills by 22% by 2027
Increase the amount of targeted plastic products into the recycling system by 100% by 2027 – this includes plastic bags (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PP), single-layer plastic packaging films (HDPE, LL/LDPE), plastic bottles (all kinds), bottle caps, plastic caps, and plastic cups/glasses
Reduce the amount of plastic waste that has the potential to end up in the sea by 50% by 2027
Moreover, the Action Plan also mentions the establishment of plastic waste management tools, namely:
Voluntary EPR
Mandatory plastic product standards
Guidelines or agreements for product design
Plastic product type symbol (eco mark)
Standards and certification of recycled raw materials (PCR)
Plastic scrap standards and features
Digital platform for recycling
Green product lists in green procurement system
Research and development results in set topics
National plastic information system or a central database
Beyond those national action plans on plastic waste management, each local administrative organisation has a local development plan that may include plastic waste management. This is a consequence of the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan Phase I (2016-2021) which encouraged the Ministry of Interior to support local administrative organizations on setting and operating their waste management activities (Ministry of Interior, 2022).
Updated as of 13 January 2025.
Akenji, L., M. Bengtsson, M. Kato, M. Hengesbaugh, Y. Hotta, C. Aoki-Suzuki, P.J.D. Gamaralalage, and C. Liu (2019), Circular Economy and Plastics: A Gap-Analysis in ASEAN Member States. Brussels: European Commission Directorate General for Environment and Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, Jakarta: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Pollution Control Department (2016), National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2016–2021). Pollution Control Department. http://www.pcd.go.th/public/Publications/print_waste.cfm?task=WasteMasterPlan (accessed 01 November 2019).
Pollution Control Department (2018), Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030. Pollution Control Department.
Pollution Control Department (2021), Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020-2022). https://www.pcd.go.th/publication/15038/ (accessed 18 March 2022).
Weerathaworn, P. (2013), ‘Trend of Bioplastic Industry in Thailand’, Plastic Foresight, 8(2), pp.12–20.
Wichai-utcha, N. and O. Chavalparit (2019), ‘3Rs Policy and Plastic Waste Management in Thailand’, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 21(1), pp.10–22.
Thailand has comprehensive action plans and roadmaps to tackle marine plastic litter, which indicates the country’s serious intention to combat this global issue. In May 2016, the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2016–2021) was created, and the responsibility for its implementation handed over to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Interior. Table 1 lists the waste management targets in the master plan.
Table 1. Items and Targets on Waste Management
Item | Targets | By Year |
|---|---|---|
Municipal solid waste | Properly manage more than 75% of total amount of municipal solid waste | 2021 |
Properly manage the 100% accumulated municipal solid waste generated in 2015 | 2019 | |
Engage more than 50% of total local authorities to conduct waste segregation at source | 2021 | |
Industrial waste | Properly manage 100% of industrial waste | 2020 |
Hazardous waste | Collect and properly dispose of more than 30% of total household hazardous waste | 2021 |
Properly manage 100% of infectious medical waste | 2020 |
Source: Pollution Control Department (2016); Akenji et al. (2019).
To support the implementation of the master plan, authorities have developed follow-up actions, including activities, plans, and/or roadmaps. Table 2 lists follow-up actions in support of the master plan.
Table 2. Follow-up Actions to Support the Master Plan
Action | Year | Aims | Authority in Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
Establish the ‘Thailand Zero Waste Action Plan (2016–2017)’ | 2016 | Achieve short-term targets:
| Department of Local Administration |
Establish the ‘Plastic Debris Management Plan (2017–2021)’ | 2017 | Introduce and encourage environment-friendly design for packaging and plastic substitution; develop material flow for plastic packaging; implement 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) strategy; and enhance education for relevant stakeholders | Pollution Control Department |
Establish the ‘National Roadmap for Development of Bioplastic Industry’ | 2017 | Design easily degradable plastic for marketing production and to make the country a bioplastic hub | Ministry of Industry |
Establish the National Reform Committee including Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Environment Reform | 2017 | Address the issue of marine debris under a steering group | Government of Thailand |
Formulate the 2018 Municipal Solid Waste Management Action Plan | 2018 | Set targets by 2018:
| Department of Local Administration |
Establish three working groups under the Plastic Waste Management Subcommittee of the National Environment Board | 2018 | Guide the development of policies on reducing unnecessary packaging and products. Each working group shall have different responsibilities: one to develop plastic management mechanisms, one to conduct promotion and public relations, and one to develop and utilise plastic waste | Government of Thailand |
Completely prohibit the use of plastic bags in the 30 hospitals under the Department of Medical Services | 2018 | Reduce single plastic use | Department of Medical Services (Ministry of Public Health) |
Conduct relevant campaigns in 7,000 locations nationwide | 2018 | Involve schools, government offices, department stores, convenience stores, and open markets in raising public awareness and education towards marine plastic litter | Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and Ministry of Interior |
Formulate the 10-year plan for plastic and plastic wastes management as the ‘Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030’ | 2019 | Replace plastics with environment-friendly materials under the following policies:
| Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment |
Source: Weerathaworn (2013); Akenji et al. (2019); Wichai-utcha and Chavalparit (2019).
Table 3 lists the step-by-step targets in the ‘Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030’.
Table 3. Detailed Targets in Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030
Target | Time Frame | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | ||||||||||||
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | ||
Ban the use of: | Plastic cap seals | 80% | 100% | |||||||||||
Oxo-degradable plastic products | 100% | |||||||||||||
Microbeads | 100% | |||||||||||||
Lightweight plastic bags (less than 36 microns thick) | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Food containers made from foam | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Single-use plastic cups (less than 100 microns thick) | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Plastic straws (exceptions for children, patients, and the elderly) | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% | ||||||||||
Reuse and recycle (including energy recovery) the targeted plastic waste, including thick plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic bottles, plastic box/tray, plastic film packaging, thick plastic cups, and plastic lids. | 22% | 25% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% | ||||
Source: Pollution Control Department (2018).
Thailand has just finished implementing Phase I of the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2016-2021) with overall satisfactory results. In Phase II of the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2022-2027), measures are being put in place to make more progress in plastic waste management and to improve gaps from previous action plans. The waste management targets in the master plan include increasing properly manage of municipal solid waste to more than 80%, increasing recycle rate of plastic packaging waste to 100%, reducing food waste, increasing the collection and proper disposal of hazardous wastes, and increasing the proper management of industrial waste to 100%. To support these targets, an Action Plan was set up for several activities related to promoting plastic waste management:
1. Waste management at source
Plastic waste
Identify types of recyclable and biodegradable plastic products
Set guidelines for the design and manufacture of plastic products that are environmentally friendly and encourage manufacturers to follow the guidelines
Announce and provide manufacturers with incentives for designing and producing eco-design products
Pilot EPR for targeted plastic products
Organize national and public events
Expand the reduction, disapproval of single-use plastics, and the sorting of plastic waste
Packaging waste
Define packaging types that are limited in recycling/handling
Pilot EPR in targeted products
Set drop-off points for returning packaging product at the community (at government offices, business offices, and other suitable places)
Set guidelines for the design and manufacture of plastic products that are environmentally friendly
Encourage manufacturers to follow the guidelines
2. Development of waste management tools
Establish laws and regulations that support circular economy
Use EPR principles in packaging/product management
Present the legislation to ministerial committees, cabinet and council of state for consideration
Promote the Circular Economy Promotion Act
Promote the utilization of post-consumer recycle (PCR) proportional packaging in household products
Develop a business model for refill stations
Establish regulations for supporting refill station activity
Extend refill station models in public areas (supermarket, convenience store, department store, apartment, etc.)
In November 2021, Thailand passed a resolution agreeing with Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020-2022). Detail targets in the Action Plan are listed in Table 4. This Action Plan has developed measures, plans and projects that establish rules, regulations and procedures, including but not limited, to prevent dumping of waste into the sea and establish guidelines to prevent and address plastic waste issues in the sea for tourism business and marine transportation.
Table 4. Detailed Targets in the Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020–2022)
Indicators | Baseline in 2019 (ton/year) | Target (% or ton/year) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||
1. Reduce and stop using targeted single-use plastics. | - | 50% | 75% | 100% |
1.1 Lightweight plastic bags (less than 36 microns thick) | 345,522 | 171,261 | 256,892 | 345,522 |
1.2 Food containers made from foam | 15,176 | 7,588 | 11,382 | 15,176 |
1.3 Single-use plastic cups (less than 100 microns thick) | 22,679 | 11,340 | 17,009 | 22,679 |
1.4 Plastic straws | 3,647 | 1,824 | 2,735 | 3,647 |
2. Recycle at least 50% of targeted plastic waste by applying circular economy principle. Targeted plastic waste includes plastic bag (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PP), single-layer plastic packaging films (HDPE, LL/LDPE), plastic bottle (all kinds), bottle cap, plastic cap, food tray/container, and cutlery. | - | 30% | 40% | 50% |
1,390,865 | 417,260 | 556,364 | 695,433 | |
Source: Pollution Control Department (2021).
The Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020-2022) terminated in 2022. The new Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase II (2023-2027) includes measures, plans and projects that establish rules, regulations and procedures, including but not limited to prevent the dumping of waste into the sea and establish guidelines to prevent and address plastic waste issues in the sea for tourism businesses and marine transportation. The targets in the Action Plan are as follows:
Reduce the amount of plastic waste entering landfills by 22% by 2027
Increase the amount of targeted plastic products into the recycling system by 100% by 2027 – this includes plastic bags (HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PP), single-layer plastic packaging films (HDPE, LL/LDPE), plastic bottles (all kinds), bottle caps, plastic caps, and plastic cups/glasses
Reduce the amount of plastic waste that has the potential to end up in the sea by 50% by 2027
Moreover, the Action Plan also mentions the establishment of plastic waste management tools, namely:
Voluntary EPR
Mandatory plastic product standards
Guidelines or agreements for product design
Plastic product type symbol (eco mark)
Standards and certification of recycled raw materials (PCR)
Plastic scrap standards and features
Digital platform for recycling
Green product lists in green procurement system
Research and development results in set topics
National plastic information system or a central database
Beyond those national action plans on plastic waste management, each local administrative organisation has a local development plan that may include plastic waste management. This is a consequence of the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Master Plan Phase I (2016-2021) which encouraged the Ministry of Interior to support local administrative organizations on setting and operating their waste management activities (Ministry of Interior, 2022).
Updated as of 13 January 2025.
Akenji, L., M. Bengtsson, M. Kato, M. Hengesbaugh, Y. Hotta, C. Aoki-Suzuki, P.J.D. Gamaralalage, and C. Liu (2019), Circular Economy and Plastics: A Gap-Analysis in ASEAN Member States. Brussels: European Commission Directorate General for Environment and Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, Jakarta: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Pollution Control Department (2016), National Solid Waste Management Master Plan (2016–2021). Pollution Control Department. http://www.pcd.go.th/public/Publications/print_waste.cfm?task=WasteMasterPlan (accessed 01 November 2019).
Pollution Control Department (2018), Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030. Pollution Control Department.
Pollution Control Department (2021), Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2020-2022). https://www.pcd.go.th/publication/15038/ (accessed 18 March 2022).
Weerathaworn, P. (2013), ‘Trend of Bioplastic Industry in Thailand’, Plastic Foresight, 8(2), pp.12–20.
Wichai-utcha, N. and O. Chavalparit (2019), ‘3Rs Policy and Plastic Waste Management in Thailand’, Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 21(1), pp.10–22.
