Advanced Info Service (AIS), the country's largest mobile operator by subscribers, has partnered with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to support e-waste drop points and build public awareness of the proper disposal of e-waste.
The cooperation, which forms part of AIS's "Thais Say No to E-Waste" programme, will see e-waste drop points at the ministry's provincial offices across the country and representatives from the Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Volunteer Network deployed to communicate with locals about the best ways to dispose of e-waste.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said Thailand generates over 400,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year, but only 500 tonnes of that is collected and disposed of correctly.
The remainder is stored in homes and houses, sold as second-hand goods, or sold to waste collectors, he said. On top of this, electronic waste is imported from overseas in increasing volumes.
In 2014, 900 tonnes of electronic waste was imported, but by 2017, imported electronic waste was more than 50,000 tonnes, the minister said.
Investigations have found factories and workplaces separating and sorting electronic waste are not in line with scientific practices, he said.
Mr Varawut said the National Environmental Board has appointed a subcommittee to manage the disposal of plastic and electronic waste, chaired by the minister.
This subcommittee has the obligations and powers to propose measures and methods, and to monitor and evaluate the results of operations.
AIS chief executive Somchai Lertsutiwong said the "Thais Say No to E-Waste" programme has led to the collection of 6.3 tonnes of e-waste.
This e-waste has been sent to recycling factories, including TES, which is an expert in recycling e-waste to standard in an environmentally-friendly way, he said.
Mr Somchai said AIS prioritises the management of all categories of waste, including e-waste, which is considered another category of waste requiring sorting and correct disposal according to standards.
"People can dispose of their e-waste, comprising mobile phones, tablets, mobile phone batteries, power banks, chargers and headphones at AIS Service points and those of partners in the network, which comprise over 2,300 points nationwide," he said.