Thailand to enforce law on toxic industrial waste management

SA KAEO, THAILAND, October 17 (TNA) - Thailand is enforcing the law on the management of toxic industrial wastes throughout the country. Industry Minister Chakramon Phasukvanich told journalists of the policy on Friday while inspecting a plant contracted to eliminate both toxic and non-toxic industrial wastes in Sa Kaeo Province in the Thai East bordering Cambodia. Chakramon stressed that he has ordered officials concerned to enforce the law on industrial waste management throughout the country. The plant, in which Chakramon visited, named Professional Waste Technology (1999) Co., is located in Sa Kaeo's Watthana Nakhon District bordering Cambodia, which will be used as in a study to make a future decision to set up more similar plants in the country. Professional Waste Technology (1999) Co. is one of three firms providing industrial waste elimination services, with its capacity to safely eliminate 1,500 tonnes of wastes daily. Expressing his satisfaction with the company’s operation, Chakramon noted that the company’s operation faced with problems eight years ago but its performance has improved after the changes of management. The minister assessed that the company should provide more services, as it is utilising only 20 per cent out of the total area in discarding the waste. It is estimated that only about 10,000 plants in Thailand, or one-thirds of the total, are now using services on eliminating toxic industrial wastes. The Thai industry minister later traveled to inspect an area for use in constructing a special economic zone in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet District, also bordering Cambodia. (TNA)