PCD seeks measures to combat toxic waste

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) will propose measures to Cabinet to strictly control the movement of hazardous industrial waste – after discovering the illegal transfer of 30 million tonnes of waste from manufacturers to unknown destinations.
PCD director-general Wichien Jungrungruang said the agency was drafting strict proposals to control hazardous industrial waste management and trans-boundary movement to try to stop illegal dumping of toxic waste.
Under these measures, five provinces – Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Samut Prakan, and Prachinburi – would be designated as strictly industrial hazardous waste areas, requiring local administrative agencies to closely watch waste management and disposal.
Also, the system tracking and verifying the movement of hazardous waste would be used to monitor whether such waste was disposed of properly.
“The problem in controlling industrial wastes’ illegal trans-boundary movement is a lack of law enforcement,” he said.
Wichien said the PCD would confer today with the Industrial Work Office to find out effective ways to control the illegal trans-boundary movement of toxic industrial waste.
It would also team up with the Department of Special Investigation to probe the disappearance of 30 million tonnes of industrial hazardous waste from the legal dumping process.
In a related move, the PCD will collaborate with member countries and its allies including China, South Korea and Japan to formulate a standard for green products on shelves across region. Paper, fluorescent lamps, and automotive items would be in the first group of environmentally friendly products approved for green labels before sale.
Under this collaboration, “green” public procurement would be promoted around the region as well, to boost the market and reduce damage to communities and the environment.
The PCD has promoted green public procurement and “eco-labelling” since 2008 with 170 central state agencies participating at the department level.
Some 14 items are listed for the project, including ink cartridges, printing pens, document boxes, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, building paint, white board pens, cleaning, photocopier rental and hotel services.
A study conducted by the National Science and Technology Development Agency found that the green procurement project could reduce carbon emissions by 25.7 million tonnes. And the government sector could gain a financial benefit of Bt233.51 million, or 24 per cent of the budget spent on goods and services.
To support continuous implementation of the green procurement project, the PCD is preparing a plan for 2013-2016, to cover local government agencies, enterprises, universities, government agencies and public organisations.
The plan aims to foster behavioral change in services and |the production and consumption of goods and will also act as |an important driving mechanism for the green procurement process.