Thailand is feeling the impact of China’s decision Tuesday to ban the import of refuse from abroad, with police and environmentalists saying electronic waste is being dumped in the nation. Although so-called e-waste can be “mined” for metals such as copper, gold and silver, it can also contain dangerous substances including cadmium, lead and mercury. Thai officials have intercepted e-waste on ships from Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, despite Bangkok signing the Basel Convention controlling the movement of hazardous waste.
Thailand is feeling the impact of China’s decision last year to ban the import of refuse from abroad, with police and environmentalists saying electronic waste is being dumped in the nation. Although so-called e-waste can be “mined” for metals such as copper, gold and silver, it can also contain dangerous substances including cadmium, lead and mercury. Thai officials have intercepted e-waste on ships from Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, despite Bangkok signing the Basel Convention controlling the movement of hazardous waste.