Thailand Takes a Stand Against Waste Colonialism by Banning Plastic Imports – Thailand Business News

Confronted with a surge in imported plastic waste, Thailand takes decisive action to halt an industry detrimental to its environment.

Since January 1st, 2025, Thailand has implemented a complete ban on plastic waste imports. This measure marks a decisive step in the fight against the transfer of waste from wealthy nations to the Global South. Behind these bans lies a less-known reality : waste colonialism, a system in which industrialized countries outsource their pollution at the expense of nations with limited infrastructure. How does this system work, and what are its environmental and economic consequences?

Waste Colonialism: How wealthy countries outsource their pollution

This system allows major economies to reduce recycling costs while creating the illusion of responsible environmental management. However, it exposes waste-importing countries to growing environmental and health challenges, highlighting the outsourcing of pollution to more vulnerable regions.

Wealthy nations : the main exporters of plastic waste

Each year, hundreds of thousands of tons of used plastic leave the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and several European countries, destined for Southeast Asia. The world’s ten largest plastic waste exporters are all high-income industrialized nations, including seven in Europe. Together, they account for 71% of global plastic waste exports, over 4.4 million tons annually. Germany leads the ranking, exporting 688,067 tons per year, followed closely by Japan with 606,374 tons.

Officially, these exports are justified by commitments to recycling. However, in many cases, this waste is openly burned, dumped in illegal landfills, or abandoned in nature.

What drives Global South countries to accept this waste?

Countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey have long accepted plastic waste, drawn by the economic opportunities of the recycling sector. This trade generates revenue and creates jobs, but local infrastructure remains insufficient to handle such an influx.

This system, reminiscent of traditional colonialism, allows wealthy nations to externalize their environmental problems to vulnerable countries. The term “waste colonialism”, first used in the 1980s and popularized by the 1989 Basel Convention, originally denounced the influx of toxic waste into Africa and the Caribbean. Today, the phenomenon persists, with millions of tons of plastic waste being sent to the Global South.

Thailand and the Surge of Plastic Waste: The Need for a Turning Point

Thailand : A prime destination for plastic waste after 2018

For decades, China was the world’s main destination for plastic waste, absorbing nearly 50% of used plastic exports from the United States, Europe, and Japan. However, in 2018, the country drastically changed its policy with the implementation of the National Sword program, banning the import of unsorted plastic waste. This decision disrupted the global waste market, forcing exporting nations to find new destinations.

In this context, Thailand quickly became a key alternative. Its industrial infrastructure, low labor costs, and existing recycling facilities attracted Western companies eager to continue exporting plastic. Between 2018 and 2021, the country imported over 1.1 million tons of plastic waste, a significant increase compared to previous years. In 2023 alone, Japan shipped 50,000 tons of plastic waste to Thailand.

Inefficient recycling and an environmental crisis

Despite the growth of the recycling sector, the massive influx of plastic waste exceeded the country’s capacity, which was already struggling with its own 2 million tons of plastic waste per year. Much of the imported waste arrived as difficult-to-recycle mixed plastics, and the lack of adequate infrastructure worsened the situation. An estimated 58% of plastic waste in Thailand is mismanaged, often ending up in illegal dumpsites or being burned, contributing to air, soil, and water pollution. This releases toxic substances linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Additionally, private recycling companies operated with minimal regulation, recovering only the most profitable materials, such as PET plastic from bottles, while the rest was discarded or incinerated.

A ban under pressure from environmental activists

In response to this environmental crisis, environmental activists intensified their efforts. As early as 2018, when Thailand became a new hub for global plastic imports, both local and international organizations warned of an impending ecological disaster. Greenpeace Thailand exposed the scale of the damage, and in 2019, activists staged protests at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, demanding a total ban on plastic and electronic waste imports.

Under increasing pressure, the Thai government gradually restricted plastic imports, ultimately approving a total ban in December 2024, which came into effect on January 1, 2025.

Toward a Global movement against plastic waste?

Thailand is following the lead of other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, which have also imposed restrictions on plastic waste imports. Beyond Asia, the European Union has taken steps to curb this practice, announcing that starting in 2026, exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries will be banned.

However, while these bans are a step forward, they alone cannot solve the plastic crisis. A global approach is needed to address the root causes of the problem. In December 2024, the United Nations attempted to establish a legally binding international treaty aimed at reducing plastic production and improving global waste management systems. However, negotiations failed due to opposition from major oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Russia. These nations fear that limiting plastic use would harm their petrochemical industry, which is responsible for a large share of global plastic production.

A drastic reduction in plastic production is crucial, with sustainable alternatives such as biodegradable materials. Thailand’s ban sends a strong message against the exploitation of Global South nations as dumping grounds. Without a global effort to curb consumption and improve plastic management, the problem will continue to shift from one country to another, threatening the planet.