Plastic Waste Imports Into Thailand Banned From 1 January 2025

Thailand banned the import of all plastic waste from Wednesday 1 January.

The move, proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and approved by cabinet on December 3 2024, is designed to protect the environment and public health, and to stimulate growth in domestic plastic recycling.

Relevant agencies must develop measures for regulating the import of plastic scraps as raw materials for industrial use. Additionally, organisations are tasked with promoting the recycling of domestic plastic waste in alignment with Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model.

The Director General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Arada Fuangtong, said:

“The ban on imports will help stimulate plastic recycling in Thailand, ensuring more efficient resource usage and reducing the amount of unused plastic waste.”

“This will also help reduce pollution that could impact the environment and public health.”