Dialogue Forum 7: Thailand’s Hazardous Waste Situation and Efforts to Clear the “World’s Trash Bin”

A policy forum on development and environmental challenges and policies to “bridge the gap” and “connect the dots” to create one big picture for better understanding and decision-making in the society

In times when society has become widened with gaps and differences of views and opinions, one issue could be escalated into a crisis if there are no platforms available for appropriate discussion among all concerned.

The media, while informing and inspiring their audience, could also take an educating and facilitating role to serve such a purpose, acting as a bridge and helping connect the dots into one big picture.

In collaboration with its partners and with the support of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Thailand Office), Bangkok Tribune Online News Agency has come up with a monthly forum on issues of importance, under the project, “Dialogue Forum”.

This is to facilitate and provide a space for discussions and exchanges of dialogues and views as well as information in regard to critical social and environmental issues both in Thailand and the Mekong region, thus not only bridging the gap and connecting the dots but also helping forge understanding among the public and the parties concerned, encouraging them to make a decision about the issues better or even find a common ground and seek solutions together.

In recent years, developments both inside and outside the country have prompted the country’s hazardous waste management to increasingly shoulder the burden as the waste has surged and scattered in a number of areas, especially where is designated as part of the Eastern Economic Corridor, the government’s grand industrial plan to gear the country towards the modern development of Thailand 4.0.

For instance, China has over the past few years closed the doors against imports of some waste for recycling in the country, resulting in the shift of the imports to other countries in Asia including Thailand despite the international agreement of the Basel Convention to regulate transboundary waste transportation in place.

Recycling factories and landfills here have expanded from hundreds to thousands accordingly to take contaminated equipment imported and e-waste, whereas rules and regulations in place are too weak to cope with such the expansion, not yet to mention a number of existing factories which have already caused the environmental problems that are still unresolved.

The government’s economic development policies, meanwhile, have apparently exacerbated the situation as more and more economic activities are being promoted beyond the waste management capacity. At the same time, some of the state regulations have been loosened to facilitate such development, which in turn, has undermined waste management further.

How Thailand can escape from the impacts of untidy hazardous waste management and contamination which is critically harmful to public health and the environment, and how it can elude the dubbed world’s trash bin is a challenging topic worth critical public discussions.

The Dialogue Forum, therefore, would cordially like to invite you to explore the sustainable path for the country’s hazardous waste management in this challenging time in its Dialogue Forum 7: Thailand’s Hazardous Waste Situation and Efforts to Clear the “World’s Trash Bin” at SEA-Junction 408, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, on October 29, 2020 (1-3.30 pm)

**In accordance with the COVID-19 regulation, please confirm your participation ahead of the event (limited seats available).

***You can also watch the event live at FB Live: Bangkok Tribune News FB Page

Objectives

• To develop and introduce a new body of knowledge and innovation in regard to the independent, in-depth media to the public (Indie & In-depth)

• To empower public members to be able to keep up with any developments as well as repercussions in the society, as well as the role of the media in helping shape the society (Empowering)

• To promote participation in the development of such an innovative and independent media so that it can remain open and accessible to all (Open & Accessible)

Partners

• Thai Society of Environmental Journalists 
• Project SEVANA South-East Asia
• SEA-Junction
• Bangkok Tribune News Agency

Supported by

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (Thailand Office)