Thailand to Ban Plastic Waste Imports From 2025 to Cut Pollution
- Officials seek to curb flood of refuse from rich countries
- Imports limited to firms that use the scraps as raw material
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Thailand is restricting plastic waste imports and will ban scrap shipments of the material starting in 2025, as officials seek to halt a flood of refuse from rich countries that has impacted the health of its citizens and polluted its air and water.
From this year, plastic waste imports will be restricted to 14 manufacturers located in Thailand’s free trade zone that use the scraps as raw materials, the government said in a statement after the cabinet approved the policy. Inflows will be cut by half next year, although exceptions may be made on a case by case basis, a government spokeswoman said Tuesday.