Mr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of Pollution Control Department (PCD), revealed that the problem of burning, disassemble and improper disposal of electrical and electronic wastes has caused air pollution problem, PM2.5 and contamination which is harmful to health and environment in all dimensions. H.E. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) ordered PCD to prevent and solve such problems by focusing on strengthening knowledge and understanding and enhancing cooperation with the related sectors. PCD has joined with government sectors, and 103 copper buying companies to sign a memorandum of cooperation and declare their intentions on “No purchasing copper and other valuable materials from burning” on April 28, 2022 in order to prevent and phase out the pathway of burning dissembling and illegal disposal of electrical and electronic wastes. Moreover, during May – September 2022, the network of this activity extended to 313 companies, reflecting that most of the junk shops are willing to comply with the policy as well.
However, PCD has been informed by several public sectors that at present, some companies are still blatantly purchasing burnt copper via online media. This indicated that they ignored to protect people’s health. Thus, PCD would like to emphasize once again to all companies that this policy will make collaboration of public, private, and government sectors to manage electrical and electronic wastes properly and to stop waste burning as in the past.
Please publicize information on the success activities and public’s benefit regularly to make morale to those who do well according to the policy. PCD kindly asks people for their cooperation in monitoring the illegal burning of power cables in order to lead social pressure not to burn copper anymore. Moreover, PCD will investigate the fact in the area of the situation and emphasize the policy not to buy copper that burnt as well as raise understanding with copper buying companies to decisively stop buying copper from burning, Mr. Pinsak said.
