Mrs. Kanchalee Navickabhum, Deputy Director General and Spokesman of the Pollution Control Department (PCD), revealed that Win Process Co., Ltd. had been illegally storing a large amount of chemical waste on its factory premises for over a decade without authorization. In 2017, PCD received complaints about pollution from the company’s operations, which were affecting public water sources and agricultural areas. PCD subsequently conducted an environmental inspection of the factory and surrounding areas. It was found that the factory’s waste pits contained acidic wastewater contaminated with heavy metals.  Additionally, leakage from these pits was causing surface water nearby to become highly acidic and polluted with heavy metals. The inspection also detected high levels of volatile organic compounds around the factory, indicating that waste was being improperly discharged, causing damage to public water sources and agricultural lands.

Mrs. Kanchalee said that PCD presented the pollution issues associated with the company to the National Environment Board on January 25, 2021. The board resolved that PCD should proceed under Sections 96 and 97 of the Enhancement and Conservation of the National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535 (1992), stating that legal action would be pursued if the company fails to compensate for the damages as required by law. PCD then established a task force to gather evidence and assess damages, which included representatives from relevant agencies such as Department of Industrial Works, Department of Agriculture, Land Development Department, Department of Fisheries, Environment and Pollution Control Office 13 (Chonburi), Rayong Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, and Bangbuth Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO). They assessed the damages, costs for pollution remediation, and environmental restoration resulting from the actions of Win Process Co., Ltd.

On November 30, 2022, PCD by prosecutors from the Office of Rayong Provincial Public Prosecution filed a lawsuit against Win Process Co., Ltd., and three others to claim damages to the government and for the restoration of natural resources and the environment, under Sections 96 and 97 of the Enhancement and Conservation of the National Environmental Quality Act, B.E. 2535 (1992). On September 2, 2023, the Rayong Provincial Court ruled that all three defendants must pay damages to PCD for environmental restoration costs, including interest and attorney fees, totaling 1,743,609,923.46 Baht. However, this case is not yet final; the defendants have the right to appeal the Rayong Provincial Court’s verdict within one month from the date it was announced. If the defendants choose not to appeal and the case becomes final, PCD will coordinate with relevant agencies to proceed with the enforcement of the court’s ruling to use the money for environmental restoration, Mrs. Kanchalee said.