Waste streams worldwide, which until the end of 2017 were going to China, have been diverted to Asian countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, and are broadening. There are reports of rising resistance from these countries to the flood of diverted waste – see Plasteurope.com of 02.07.2018. After Vietnam had implemented a temporary ban on the import of plastics waste, Thailand is following suit. From the proposal of the Thai Department of Industrial Works (DIW, Bangkok; www.diw.go.th), the government ordered a provisional suspension to imports of plastics waste and E&E scrap at the end of June.

The DIW is aiming for a definitive ban to be implemented. In addition, Thai recycling companies are prohibited from processing the relevant materials, with penalties for non-adherence, and spot checks at more than 2,200 recycling sites in the country. Thailand imports little waste from the EU – the majority of the country's imported waste comes from Singapore.