Thai customs authorities have confiscated 284 tonnes of electronic waste at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, and are preparing to send the illegal shipment back to the United States where it originated. “Authorities have been checking the remaining containers — there are 21 in all — and we expect to find more illegal electronic waste. Thailand ratified the Basel Convention in March 2023. According to the convention, any illegal hazardous waste shipment must be returned to the country of origin, often as the exporter’s expense. Thailand banned the import of electronic waste in 2020, and strengthened the regulations in 2025 to cover 463 types of e-waste, including circuit boards, batteries, and used phones.

Source: Bangkok Post March 10, 2026 15:12 UTC