Environment and natural resources
Pollution and waste
Renewed push to sort, recycle waste
Despite its reputation of being one of the world’s top tourist destinations, litter can literally be seen all over Bangkok.According to the Department of Environment and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) figures, the capital produces more than 8,000 tonnes of municipal waste every day.Keep reading ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Air pollution returns to Bangkok
The annual problem of air pollution has returned to Bangkok, with PM2.5 fine particle dust levels measured above the set safe level of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre at 65 spots at 7am on Wednesday.The highest level of PM2.5, 80 microgrammes per cubic metre, was ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Health department urges work-from-home measure as dust problem arises
With cool-to-cold weather upon us and changing air pressure as well as more people travelling, the dust problem is returning, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday after a meeting with the Committee on Occupational Disease Control and Environmental Diseases.As the PM 2.5 dust ...
The Nation Reporter
Blitz on smoky cars to curb PM2.5 smog
The Pollution Control Department (PCD) aims to reduce PM2.5 air pollution by 25% by imposing the maximum punishment under the traffic law on any driver whose vehicle produces black smoke caused by poor maintenance.According to PCD chief Attaporn Charoenchansa, the department has been closely working ...
Apinya Wipatayotin
Higher PM2.5 levels may return from late October, could exceed health standard in Jan, Feb
The Pollution Control Department said the PM2.5 dust situation is presently at the standard level of 5-27 mcg/cu across Thailand.The department said that until the end of October, the overall situation is expected to be “good” due to a general air buoyancy ceiling and increasing ...
The Nation Reporter
Infectious waste fees to be tackled
The Internal Trade Department plans to hold a meeting with related parties to find ways to regulate contaminated garbage disposal charges after companies significantly increased their removal fees.Chakra Yodmani, deputy director-general of the department, said tomorrow’s meeting with related government agencies, including the National Municipal ...
Phusadee Arunmas
Fixing Thailand's killer air pollution
Air pollution is a persistent, deadly problem in Thailand. Time after time we watched as thick white smog rolled through the maze of roads to settle among buildings. We knew something was very wrong. After all, clean air should not be visible.We have been living ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Thai minister sows confusion over 2026 plastic import ban
Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has created doubt over the country’s 2026 plastic import ban by ordering a review on the implementation date.The Ministry had previously announced that it would gradually reduce imports of plastics up to an eventual ban in 2026.But Warawut ...
Alarm sounded over Covid waste at home
The government’s home isolation measures for Covid-19 patients are causing concern over the growing amount of infectious waste they are generating, including discarded face masks and used antigen test kits, as the waste threatens the environment, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).Serious action to ...
Lamonphet Apisitniran
Government must ban imports of plastic scrap
Last Monday, members of the Anti-Plastic Scrap Citizen’s Network submitted a petition to the environmental minister. The petition demanded the government impose a ban on the import of plastic scrap by the end of this year.It was signed by 108 civil society organisations (CSOs) and ...
Bangkok Post Reporter