Thailand’s environmental pollution is mainly a result of a rapidly increasing population, industrial activities, and a growing economy. Big cities like Bangkok suffer pollution issues such as an increasing volume of improperly disposed of solid waste, bad air quality, and noise pollution. Meanwhile, water quality in the country is also compromised by agricultural deforestation, expansion of communities, and improper wastewater drainage. In 2022, the
Pollution issues in Thailand
Unsurprisingly, air pollution is among the most severe pollution issues among Thai citizens. Together with noise pollution, it accounted for the majority of
complaints filed against environmental issues in 2022. Air pollution in Thailand is mainly caused by traffic congestion and industrial emissions. Aside from air pollution, solid waste management is also a pressing issue in the country. With more than 25 million metric tons of
solid waste produced in Thailand in 2022, there are less than 400 proper waste disposal sites. Meanwhile, the
number of improper waste disposal sites in the country amounted to almost two thousand units. In comparison,
water quality in Thailand was on average good or fair among the 65 essential surface water sources surveyed in the country.
Pollution management and solutions in Thailand
The Pollution Control Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for pollution control in Thailand. Several measures have been introduced to tackle pollution, such as detecting vehicles that produce black exhaust smoke, forbidding open burning, and cooperating with vehicle manufacturers to reduce air pollution. A reduction of plastic use is also encouraged nationwide. Certain retailers already adapted to this approach by offering paid-reusable bags instead of plastic bags to consumers. In addition, the development of a water drainage standard for industrial plants has also been initiated. In 2022, the government spent around ten billion Thai baht on
environmental protection in Thailand, which was a decrease, compared to the previous year.
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