Several key authorities are working to solve the marine plastic litter issue in Thailand: these include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment through the Pollution Control Department, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, the Ministry of Public Health through the Department of Health, the Ministry of Industry through the Department of Industrial Work, and the Ministry of Interior through the Department of Local Administration and the National and Provincial Waste Management Committee.
The Pollution Control Department and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources develop action plans, measures, and technical guidance. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning develops general policies and plans, supports their effective implementation, and monitors the effort to mitigate environmental impact. The Department of Environmental Quality Promotion inculcates social awareness and readiness to support the sustainability of the environment and natural resources. The Department of Health collaborates with the Pollution Control Department in formulating plans and standards. The Department of Industrial Work deals with the waste generated from the industrial sector. The Department of Local Administration allocates duties to local government authorities and helps them formulate plans. The National and Provincial Waste Management Committee approves the outsourcing of and any kind of private business engaged in municipal solid waste (MSW) management.
The latest coordination of MSW management was developed under the new policy of educating people about the new national rules on MSW treatment. The effort is being undertaken by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Education, and local administration organisations to raise awareness on waste segregation at source (Funatsu, 2019).
The coordination goes beyond governmental scope. The Thailand Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Plastic and Waste Management or PPP Plastic is a partnership between ministries and private organisations. It was established on 5 June 2018 and led by Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development and Plastic Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries, working to drive sustainable management of plastic waste with various sectors. By 2022, 39 organizations have joined, including government agencies, such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, as well as private companies, international organizations, and educational institutes. PPP Plastic has a main goal to support and drive Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030 to achieve its target in reducing the amount of plastic waste in Thailand’s seas by 2027. It specifically aims to (1) reduce and eliminate the use of targeted plastics by using environmentally friendly products, and (2) reuse the targeted plastic waste at 100% by 2027.
The Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE), which is under the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), conducts research and plays a role in promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in plastic packaging waste management. TPSME is also in charge of encouraging manufacturers to follow the upcoming environmentally friendly plastic packaging design and production guidelines in 2023-2027.
In March 2024, the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed on the Draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act, which aims to introduce mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging. This Act would shift Thailand's environmental policy from voluntary initiatives to mandatory obligations. Key aspects include:
EPR Obligation: Producers must ensure the recovery and recycling of packaging waste, delegating responsibility to certified Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs).
Single-Use Packaging Bans: The Act would allow the formation of a committee to ban certain single-use packaging across Thailand.
Timeline and Implementation: A 3-year timeline is set for developing EPR infrastructure, including a digital registration system, aligning with Thailand’s Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management (2023-2027).
Lastly, the Thailand Environment Institute (October 2024), in collaboration with the Pollution Control Department and the PPP Plastics, presented a study on alternatives for reducing single-use plastic usage according to the national plastic waste management roadmap. The key recommendations are:
Promoting the use of bioplastic bags for fresh produce, which are often soiled and discarded, to be collected and sent to landfills. It is also recommended to discontinue the use of conventional plastic bags with a thickness of less than 36 microns to prevent reuse.
Discontinuing the use of foam containers for food packaging.
Banning the use of plastic cups with a thickness of less than 100 microns and plastic straws in certain places, starting with government offices, educational institutions, airports, department stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other designated locations.
Updated as of 13 January 2025.
Funatsu, T. (2019), ‘Municipal Solid Waste Management in Thai Local Governments: The State of the Problem and Prospects for Regional Waste Management’, in M. Kojima (ed.) Toward Regional Cooperation of Local Governments in ASEAN. Institute of Developing Economies and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, pp.1–22.
Several key authorities are working to solve the marine plastic litter issue in Thailand: these include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment through the Pollution Control Department, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, the Ministry of Public Health through the Department of Health, the Ministry of Industry through the Department of Industrial Work, and the Ministry of Interior through the Department of Local Administration and the National and Provincial Waste Management Committee.
The Pollution Control Department and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources develop action plans, measures, and technical guidance. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning develops general policies and plans, supports their effective implementation, and monitors the effort to mitigate environmental impact. The Department of Environmental Quality Promotion inculcates social awareness and readiness to support the sustainability of the environment and natural resources. The Department of Health collaborates with the Pollution Control Department in formulating plans and standards. The Department of Industrial Work deals with the waste generated from the industrial sector. The Department of Local Administration allocates duties to local government authorities and helps them formulate plans. The National and Provincial Waste Management Committee approves the outsourcing of and any kind of private business engaged in municipal solid waste (MSW) management.
The latest coordination of MSW management was developed under the new policy of educating people about the new national rules on MSW treatment. The effort is being undertaken by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Education, and local administration organisations to raise awareness on waste segregation at source (Funatsu, 2019).
The coordination goes beyond governmental scope. The Thailand Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Plastic and Waste Management or PPP Plastic is a partnership between ministries and private organisations. It was established on 5 June 2018 and led by Thailand Business Council for Sustainable Development and Plastic Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries, working to drive sustainable management of plastic waste with various sectors. By 2022, 39 organizations have joined, including government agencies, such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, as well as private companies, international organizations, and educational institutes. PPP Plastic has a main goal to support and drive Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018–2030 to achieve its target in reducing the amount of plastic waste in Thailand’s seas by 2027. It specifically aims to (1) reduce and eliminate the use of targeted plastics by using environmentally friendly products, and (2) reuse the targeted plastic waste at 100% by 2027.
The Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE), which is under the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), conducts research and plays a role in promoting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in plastic packaging waste management. TPSME is also in charge of encouraging manufacturers to follow the upcoming environmentally friendly plastic packaging design and production guidelines in 2023-2027.
In March 2024, the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed on the Draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act, which aims to introduce mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging. This Act would shift Thailand's environmental policy from voluntary initiatives to mandatory obligations. Key aspects include:
EPR Obligation: Producers must ensure the recovery and recycling of packaging waste, delegating responsibility to certified Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs).
Single-Use Packaging Bans: The Act would allow the formation of a committee to ban certain single-use packaging across Thailand.
Timeline and Implementation: A 3-year timeline is set for developing EPR infrastructure, including a digital registration system, aligning with Thailand’s Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management (2023-2027).
Lastly, the Thailand Environment Institute (October 2024), in collaboration with the Pollution Control Department and the PPP Plastics, presented a study on alternatives for reducing single-use plastic usage according to the national plastic waste management roadmap. The key recommendations are:
Promoting the use of bioplastic bags for fresh produce, which are often soiled and discarded, to be collected and sent to landfills. It is also recommended to discontinue the use of conventional plastic bags with a thickness of less than 36 microns to prevent reuse.
Discontinuing the use of foam containers for food packaging.
Banning the use of plastic cups with a thickness of less than 100 microns and plastic straws in certain places, starting with government offices, educational institutions, airports, department stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and other designated locations.
Updated as of 13 January 2025.
Funatsu, T. (2019), ‘Municipal Solid Waste Management in Thai Local Governments: The State of the Problem and Prospects for Regional Waste Management’, in M. Kojima (ed.) Toward Regional Cooperation of Local Governments in ASEAN. Institute of Developing Economies and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, pp.1–22.
