Environment Minister Orders Crackdown on Illegal Waste Dumping
Thailand's Environment Minister has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal waste dumping after hazardous materials and contaminated water were discovered on agricultural land in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
On August 21, 2025, Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin instructed the Pollution Control Department to coordinate with relevant agencies and local communities to monitor, track, and strictly investigate illegal industrial waste dumping, while supporting police in analyzing waste evidence through scientific data to identify and prosecute all parties involved.
Pollution Control Department Director General Surin Vorakijtamrong revealed that the Environmental and Pollution Control Office 7 in Sara Buri, working with the Prachuap Khiri Khan Natural Resources and Environment Office, the Wang Tao Chang Sub-district Administration Organization, village environmental volunteers, and local leaders, conducted an inspection following reports from an environmental pollution monitoring network. They discovered black waste of unknown type mixed with plastic scraps and cut electrical wire fragments in agricultural land in Moo 4, Kok Mai Daeng village, Wang Tao Chang sub-district, Kabinburi district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. Two nearby water sources were found contaminated—one with dark, foul-smelling water showing oil residue on the surface, approximately 800 meters away—posing risks to water use in the area. Officials collected three surface water samples for analysis and environmental impact assessment.
Wang Tao Chang police station, Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Police, and Region 2 Provincial Police have requested the Pollution Control Department's support in analyzing seized evidence to determine if it qualifies as hazardous waste under law and to support investigation and prosecution. The department will provide full technical information to officers while building community networks to report leads, aiming to track waste sources, transport routes, and those responsible with efficiency, holding violators accountable under law.
