Authorities raid Chinese-owned recycling factories for illegally processing e-waste
Authorities raided Chinese-owned recycling factories in Thailand over illegal e-waste processing.
Industrial officers and local authorities on Wednesday raided the facilities in Chonburi, for alleged improper electronic waste disposal in Chonburi.
The factories covered 11.9 acres (30 rai) of land and were operated by Jieseng Plastic Co Ltd and Dingxing (Thai-Chinese) Metal Co Ltd.
During the raids, officials found large piles of electronic waste scattered throughout indoor and outdoor areas, with foul-smelling liquid leaking from some locations.
Machines were actively operating, while numerous large bags were stored in the warehouses alongside additional machinery.
An inspection revealed that both companies had been ordered by Nong Ri Subdistrict Municipality to temporarily suspend operations in May 2025 as public health officials had previously discovered that the wastewater treatment ponds failed to meet industry standards.
The companies also reportedly lacked a permit to operate a business hazardous to health involving metal washing, which did not match the initial scope of their permit applications.
Scrap plastic, metal and electronic circuit board parts had been piled outdoors, leading to previous suspension orders until the companies rectified the issues. However, residents complained that both factories had continued operating in violation of the suspension order.
The complaints led to the latest inspection, where officers found that the facilities had brought in additional machinery and moved piles of electronic waste despite the shutdown order.
Some of the previously seized materials had disappeared, while new materials had been added, constituting a 'clear violation of the law', authorities said.
Industrial officers cordoned off the entire area to prohibit any movement of materials. Further inspections were planned as a formal report was filed at Mueang Chonburi Police Station.
Mayor Sunthorn Tantipokakul said that officials inspected both warehouses last year following complaints in May 2025.
He said: 'We ordered the operation to stop and seized the materials, but more machinery was brought in despite the directive. Officials went to inspect the site regularly, but the gates were always closed.
'On July 31, we found that some of the seized materials had been secretly removed. We do not yet know whether they were illegally dumped. Previous inspections found no industrial waste outside the buildings, but this time we found large amounts, suggesting it had been brought in very recently.'
