STATE OF SOLID WASTE
To reduce the rubbish everywhere. To reduce burden suitably and basically. To reduce from now and forever. To remind the environmental awareness and care eternally.
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 47 State of Municipal Solid Waste
In 2004, Thailandûs municipal solid waste has climbed higher. The total amount of solid waste around the country was approximately 14.6 million tons or 39,956 tons a day (excluding the amount of solid waste not being dropped into the bins), increasing about 0.2 million tons from the previous year. Only in the Bangkok Metropolitan area, the amount of collected solid waste was 9,356 tons while the amount of solid waste generated in the municipal area and Muang Pattaya was 12,500 tons a day. The amount of waste generated in other non-municipal areas, covering all Tambon Administration Organization areas, was 18,100 tons a day (Table 1 and Figure 1). The rising amount of solid waste might come from the population growth, expansion of communities, economic stimulus by the governmental sector, tourism promotion and development.
Table 1 : The Amount of Municipal Solid Waste between 2003 - 2004
Amount of Solid Waste Percentage of Area (tons/day) Increasing Waste 2003 2004 1. Bangkok* 9,340 9,356 0.17 2. Municipal areas including Pattaya (1,145 municipalities) 12,100 12,500 3.31 2.1 Central and Eastern Regions (366 municipalities) 5,220 5,440 4.21 2.2 Northern Region (252 municipalities) 2,095 2,125 1.43 2.3 Northeastern Region (348 municipalities) 2,795 2,875 2.86 2.4 Southern Region (179 municipalities) 1,990 2,060 3.52 3. Non-Municipal Areas 17,800 18,100 1.69 Total 39,240 39,956 1.82
Remark : Numbers in the parentheses are the number of municipalities Source : Department of Public Cleansing, BMA
THAILAND STATE OF 48 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 Amount (tons/day) 20,000 18,100 18,000 17,800 16,000 14,000 12,100 12,500 12,000 10,000 9,340 9,356 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Bangkok Municipalities Non-municipal Areas 2003 2004
Figure 1 : The Amount of Waste, Classified by Areas between 2003 - 2004
For solid waste generated in municipal areas, it mostly consisted of food leaving and organic waste mostly (63.57%); the second was plastic, paper, glass, metal, clothes, wood, and rubber/leather proportionally, including the other elements. (Figure 2).
Wood 0.74% Rubber/Leather 0.5% Others 3.23% Clothes 1.37% Paper 8.19% Metal 2.10%
Food Leavings/Organic Waste 63.57% Plastic 16.83%
Glass 3.47%
Figure 2 : The Components of Municipal Solid Waste througout the Country
Source : Survey and Analysis Report of Municipal Solid Waste Components all over the Country, The Pollution Control Department, 2004
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 49 Waste in Bangkok Metropolitan Area Solid waste in the Bangkok Metropolitan area could be totally collected at 9,356 tons a day. The disposal of waste in Bangkok was contracted out to a private company with a responsibility for waste collection and transfer to landfill facilities, pursuant to public health principles, located at Kampang San District, Nakhon Pathom Province and Tambon Rachadheva, Bangpli District, Samut Prakarn Province (Figure 3).
The amount of waste collected 9,356 tons/day
Onnuch waste Nong Kham waste Tha Rang waste transfer station transfer station transfer station 3,634 tons/day (39%) 3,580 tons/day (38%) 2,142 tons/day (23%)
Rachadheva Landfill, Kampang San Landfill, Bangpli District, Kampang San District, Samut Prakarn Province Nakhon Pathom Province 3,634 tons/day (39%) 5,722 tons/day (61%)
Figure 3 : The Management of BMA Waste in 2004
Source : Department of Public Cleansing, BMA
THAILAND STATE OF 50 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 Waste in Municipal Areas Solid waste generated in city or municipal areas amounted to 12,500 tons a day, which would be treated by the waste eradication system pursuant to public health principles, in 106 facilities : 103 sanitary landfill facilities and 3 incinerators (Lampoon Municipality, Phuket Municipality, and Tambon Koh Samui Municipality). By these facilities, about 5,325 tons of solid waste or 42.6% from all municipal areas around the country could be wiped out per day. However, the residue waste has not yet been treated properly proved by the existence of open dumping and open burning. Nevertheless, most sanitary waste landfills still encountered improper operation system and maintenance, shortage of skillful and experienced personnel in the operation system, as well as shortage of budgets for maintaining and running the operation system. These resulted to waste landfill system inefficiently tailored to eliminate the solid waste. In part of incinerators for burning the municipal waste set up in 3 locations, they have been obstructed by expenses of the system operation. Waste in Non-municipal Areas Solid waste generated in areas beyond the Bangkok Metropolitan area, other municipalities, and Muang Pattaya amounted to 18,100 tons a day. Provincial Administrations and Tambon Administrations were responsible for the collection and disposal of waste, but most have not provided sanitary waste disposal facilities. Consequently, waste was eliminated by open burning or uncontrolled landfills or open dumping. Only 287 Tambon Administrations (of 6,636 Tambon Administrations in total) had the sanitary waste disposal in cooperation with municipalities occupying such sanitary waste treatment system, but only 886 tons of waste could be disposed per day. For other remote areas, local people had their own methods of waste elimination.
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 51 State of Waste Utilization
Municipal Solid Waste Utilization Municipal solid waste in 2004 reached 14.6 million tons (excluding municipal solid waste that was sorted out before dropping into garbage cans), but only 3.1 million tons were recycled or 21% of all generated amount of waste (Figure 1). Solid waste delivered to the recycle process came from 0.2 million ton of organic and bioliquid fertilizer, and 2.9 million tons of ferrous metal, paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, and rubber. Recycle patterns have been encouraged by various activities such as purchase of junk, Recycle Pha Pa Project, garbage banks establishment in schools, recycled objects weekend market, waste in exchange for rice, compost and organic fertilizer production, etc. Amount of waste utilization Amount of waste generated in municipalities
Amount (million tons) 20
14.6 15 14.1 14.3 14.4 10
5 2.6 2.8 3.1 0 2.2 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year Figure 1 : The Amount of Municipal Waste Utilization from 2001 to 2004
Waste Utilization in the Agricultural Sector In 2004, analysis of data (received by the Office Agricultural Economics, the Department of Livestock Development, the Land Development Department, and the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency) revealed that top ten waste materials from agricultural activities with the highest utilization potential were rice, sugarcane, corn, coconut, oil palm, cassava, peanuts, cotton, soy bean, and millet. These agricultural waste materials totaled 82.23 million tons, which could be utilized approximately 18.60 million tons or 22.62%. From such utilization, it could be separated into the utilization forms of alternative energy/fuel about 15.74 million tons, animal food, and organic fertilizer about 2.61 million tons and 0.24 million tons respectively.
THAILAND STATE OF 52 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 Waste Utilization in the Industrial Sector In 2004, the amount of waste generated by the industrial sector consisted of paper, glass, plastic, ferrous metal, aluminum, and rubber approximately 14.6 million tons. About 8.3 million tons of them or 57% of all waste in the industrial sector were utilized or 14% higher than the utilization rate in the previous year. (Figure 3)
Amount of waste utilization in industrial sector Amount of waste generated in industrial sector
Amount (million tons) 25 20 14.6 12.4 15 11.3 11.4 10 8.3 5 5.1 5.5 5.3 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year Figure 2 : The Amount of Waste Utilization by the Industrial Sector from 2001 to 2004
Waste utilization in the industrial sector mainly involved the exchange of waste between factories and material, residue by manufacturers, importers, or distributors through waste exchange system, deposit-refund system, lucky draw through sale agents, and waste buying back from junk shop operators, etc. Waste utilization, categorized by industry, is descried below (Table 1 and Figure 3) : 1. Paper Industry - About 1.3 million tons or 38% of total waste paper in the country (about 3.4 million tons) were recycled, or 12% higher if compared to that in 2003. 2. Glass Industry - About 1.4 million tons or 64% of total glass waste in the country (about 2.2 million tons) were recycled and reused, or 15% higher if compared to that in 2003. 3. Plastic Industry - About 0.6 million tons or 21% of total plastic waste in the country (about 2.9 million tons) were recycled, or 5% lower if compared to that in 2003. 4. Iron and Steel Industry - About 4.6 million tons or 90% of total iron and steel waste in the country (about 5.2 million tons) were recycled, or 9% higher if compared to that in 2003.
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 53 5. Aluminum Industry - About 0.33 million tons or 54% of total aluminum waste in the country (about 0.61 million tons) were recycled, or 1% higher if compared to that in 2003. 6. Rubber Industry - About 0.07 million tons or 19% of total rubber waste in the country (about 0.36 million tons) were recycled, or 1% higher if compared to that in 2003.
Table 1 : The Amount of Waste Utilization in the Industrial Sector from 2003 to 2004
Waste in Waste Utilization in Industry Industrial Sector (tons) Industrial Sector Methods 2003 2004 2003 2004 Tons % Tons % Paper 3,997,600 3,352,000 1,053,000 26 1,275,000 38 Recycling Glass 2,009,300 2,202,300 742,500 37 1,173,300 53 Recycling/ 246,300 12 249,600 11 Reuse Plastic 2,841,600 2,889,600 746,600 26 603,500 21 Recycling Ferrous Metal 2,632,900 5,153,000 2,139,000 81 4,648,800 90 Recycling Aluminum 575,700 606,000 306,400 53 328,400 54 Recycling Rubber 356,000 361,700 47,500 13 42,000 12 Recycling/ 24,400 7 25,600 7 Reuse Total 12,413,100 14,564,600 5,305,700 43 8,346,200 57
Remark : Data from the Customs Department, The Department of Primary Industries and Mines, The Department of Trade Negotiations, Board of Investment of Thailand, The Office of Industrial Economics, Thai Federation of Industries, Thai Plastic Industries Association, Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand, Thai Pulp and Paper Industries Association, Industrial Finance Corporation of Thailand, Siam Cement Industry Co., Ltd., and Bangkok Glass Co., Ltd.
THAILAND STATE OF 54 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 Waste utilization Waste generated
Amount (tons) 6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0 Paper Glass Plastic Metal Aluminum Figure 3 : Waste Utilization in the Industrial Sector, Year 2004
According to the above data revealing the waste utilization in the industrial sector, it showed that, in almost all industrial categories, waste utilization rates were higher, except plastic and rubber industries. Therefore, waste utilization should be greater promoted. Promotion activities should be simultaneously carried on in various methods such as waste exchange among factories, establishment of more recycling facilities, and campaigns and public relations, etc.
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 55 State of Hazardous Waste
The Pollution Control Department had a projection that the total amount of hazardous waste generated in 2004 would like to 1,808 million tons, about 8,000 tons higher than year 2003. From this amount of hazardous waste, it could be classified into the industrial hazardous waste about 1,405 million tons or 5,000 tons higher, and municipal hazardous waste about 0.403 million tons or 3,000 tons higher, and this total amount included 0.02 millions tons of infectious waste. Most hazardous waste or 59% of all hazardous waste or approximately 1.06 million tons was generated in the Bangkok Metropolitan area and vicinity. Table 1 : Hazardous Waste, Classified by Type and Region
Region Industries Municipalities Total (million tons/year) (million tons/year) % Bangkok and Vicinity0.930 0.136 58.96 Central 0.099 0.066 9.13 Eastern 0.117 0.028 8.02 Northeastern 0.048 0.081 7.13 Northern 0.115 0.049 9.07 Southern 0.096 0.043 7.69 Total 1.405 0.403 100 Generally, industrial hazardous waste treatment was taken in the Bangkok Metropolitan area and vicinity most, but only 50% of total waste was delivered to the treatment, caused by business cost-efficiency. Some entrepreneurs required undertaking the waste treatment by themselves, or some might require collecting a great amount of waste before eliminating in order to reduce their business costs, etc. Industrial hazardous waste data, collected from related authorities such as the Department of Industrial Works, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, etc., indicated that about 0.650 million tons of waste or 25,000 tons, increased from previous year, were treated. The Industrial Environmental Technology Bureau, the Department of Industrial Works has announced the list of licensed facilities for disposal of waste or unusable materials, and convericently classified these facilities into 2 main groups. The former group was categorized into 4 following types pursuant to treatment methods : 1. Disposal of waste by cement kiln (7 facilities) 2. Disposal of non-hazardous waste by incinerators (4 facilities) 3. Disposal of both hazardous and non-hazardous waste by landfill (3 facilities) 4. Disposal of non-hazardous waste by landfill (3 facilities) The total 17 treatment facilities were listed as licensed treatment facilities for the disposal of waste or unusable materials, and, in the latter group, another 49 facilities were announced as separation and recycling facilities. Facilities in compliance with this announcement could operate their businesses when they have filled an application for operation.
THAILAND STATE OF 56 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 Table 2 : Industrial Hazardous Waste, Delivered to Hazardous Waste Treatment Facilities by Ways of Incinerator, Treatment, Stabilization, and Landfill in 2004
Hazardous Waste Treatment Facilities by Ways of Incinerator, Amount (tons) Percentage Treatment, Stabilization, and Landfill General Environmental Conservation Public Co., Ltd. (GENCO), 68,000 * treating all kinds of hazardous waste 22.00 General Environmental Conservation Public Co., Ltd. (GENCO), 75,000 * treating all kinds of inorganic hazardous waste Cement kilns (7), incinerating hazardous waste that can be used 457,000 71.30 as fuel or alternative raw materials Separating and Recycling Waste Facilities 50,000 7.70 Total 640,000 100 Source : Survey by The Pollution Control Department to the treatment facilities from DIW announcement * Number gained by estimation In part of community-generated hazardous waste, most has been improperly treated since it was eradicated together with the general waste. In 2004, activities to reduce the hazardous waste pollution generated by both communities and industries have been taken. For example, the Pollution Control Department in cooperation with relevant agencies have prepared the strategic framework for the management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment, and it also cooperated with private companies for the receipt of returned battery and mobile phone waste. Currently, a plenty of electrical and electronic equipment that are purchased or imported from other countries are made from under-standard or used equipment (second-hand products) that favor the general people due to their cheap prices. Anyway, they may give the long-run impact to the environment when they come to the end of ages because these products are normally used for some periods and their workable span remains slim. However, the rapid development of technology pushes these products to have lower capacities than newly-braned products in this present time. Consumers who always desire the most recent products will certainly throw away these second-hand ones, which may be mixed with other general waste or wiped out by other disposal methods. Certainly, improper management will make chemicals and heavy metals filled in these appliances discharged to the environment. Regarding the infectious waste, it was treated by public health stations by ways of incinerators equipped there. Other infectious waste would be collected and eradicated by local administrations by means of infectious incinerators, belonged to local administrations, established at 10 locations in 9 provinces around the country (namely Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Suphan Buri, Chiang Mai, Khon Khen, Songkhla, Phuket, and Chonburi). The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health Affairs have prepared the national waste disposal plan and an action plan in which the management of infectious waste was included to solve problems of infectious waste in the long run. Under the management of infectious waste, areas all over the country would be divided into 21 groups, and local administrations in 9 provinces with existing management of infectious waste would be established as the management central areas where would be given more service areas, and their management efficiency had to be improved for achieving the highest capacities of the particular management system. For other areas, they would be at least 11 management area groups; local administrations would provide the waste separation and collection system and the disposal of infectious waste, which had to be separated from other general waste by taking emphasis on using the same waste disposal locations and encouraging the private sector to have an investment and operation in this matter. THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 57 Management Strategy for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) composed valuable compounds that can be separated and reused such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and other hazardous chemicals such as arsenic, which probably affect general peopleûs health and the environmental quality. Consequently, the Ministry of Industry issued a notification regarding the list of hazardous substances B.E. 2546. Under this notification, the waste from electrical and electronic equipment was notified as Class-3 hazardous substances. Nevertheless, the proper separation and collection system for WEEE has not yet been established in Thailand; thereby, the WEEE generated in the country could not be gathered. As a result, the private sector was discouraged in the operation of waste separation and recycling facilities (Facility No. 105 and 106). Moreover, Thailandûs existing laws have not supported the management of WEEE while there were also other difficulties such as a shortage of investment fund for the construction and operation system, a shortage of skillful personnel, and a lack of proper locations for the establishment of management and technology centers, etc. Hence, the management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment still stands as a core problem.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment by the Pollution Control Department cooperating with the Ministry of Industry (by the Office of Industrial Economics, the Office of Industrial Standard, and the Department of Industrial Works) have prepared Thailandûs Management Strategy for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment and an Action Plan. For the preparation of this strategy, all related governmental agencies had innovative meetings in order that this strategy would enhance measuring and working direction in consistence of duties and actual performance of related entities. The main objective of the specifically-tailored management strategy for waste from electrical and electronic equipment was to manage WEEE from the start to the end under correctly academic basis and integrated system upon the following principles, detailed below : Polluter Pays Principle - Electrical and electronic manufacturers and importers had to be involved with responsibility for the management of WEEE by paying for special chargesû further buying back WEEE from consumers and managing the WEEE up to the academic basis. Establishment of Economic and Financial Mechanism including marketing mechanism as the motivation or stimulation for the management of WEEE by setting up a fundable system to buy back WEEE from consumers. This action would lead to the separation and collection of WEEE from other general waste, promotion of separating the WEEE correctly, and sales of valuable waste to recycling facilities or facilities requiring the reused waste or treatment/disposal pursuant to correct academic basis.
THAILAND STATE OF 58 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 Establishment of Fund Management that was furnished an independence of fund management, consisting of the Fund Office established as a juristic person and a Stateûs agency, but not the governmental agency or the state enterprise. The Fund Management Manager should contain knowledge and abilities for the management of fund on a full-time basis. The Fund Management Board should have duty and authority to set up policies about the management of fund, and to control and supervise the management and fundable expenditures for managing the waste of electrical and electronic equipment. Mechanism/monitoring procedures and performance evaluation of this Fund would be also set up. Issuance of Laws to support the management of WEEE by the enactment of the Act on the Promotion for the Management of Used Hazardous Waste. This Act shall cover issues regarding the collection of product charges, financial management to support the management of WEEE by setting up a specific fund, establishment of the Fund Office, Management Board, and Fund Manager with independence in the operation and management of fund businesses, establishment of waste purchase system and waste management based on the economics measures through the Fund, and setting up roles and duties of management administrations in both national and local levels. Other Supporting Measures such as issuance of measures and penalties to prohibit the general people to throw away the WEEE in public places, control and supervision of waste recycling and treatment/disposal facilities, studies, researches, and designs of ecological products, campaigns, public relations, etc. The action plan under the innovative management strategy for waste from electrical and electronic equipment consisted of 3 main working plans as described below:
1) Working plan for the establishment of financial mechanism and management system of waste from electrical and electronic equipment consisted of 2 main projects : çA Project on Systematizing the Management of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipmenté and çThe Enactment of the Act on Promotion for the Management of Hazardous Waste from Used Productsé. 2) Working plan for the development of electrical and electronic equipment industry to manufacture products that were friendly to the environment. This working plan consisted of 2 main projects : çA Propelling Project for Clean Products and Preparation for Readiness of SMEs in Electrical and Electronic Industry Imported to EU through Green Campé and çA Project on Eco-design Contest for Electrical and Electronic Equipmenté. 3) Working plan for awareness and market stimulus consisted of 2 main projects : çA Campaign about Toxicity/Danger of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Its Recycle/Reuseé and çA Project on the Purchase of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Friendly to the Environmenté.
To enhance working performance taken by related units, the Pollution Control Department will further propose the management strategy for the waste of electrical and electronic equipment and the actions plan to the National Environment Board and the Cabinet for their approvals and to be given policies for actions performed as per such innovative strategy.
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 59 Unlawful Landfill of Hazardous Waste at Tambon Khlang Dong Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
On 9 September 2004, unlawful landfill of industrial hazardous waste occurred when a group of persons illegally accessed to the area next to the facility owned by Asoke Chemical Co., Ltd. whose land title number was 4627, located at Moo 1, Tambon Khlang Dong, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. This plot of land was previously possessed by Mr. Nopporn Suebsiri, and it was later transferred to his son, Mr. Pisit Suebsiri. Formerly, General Environmental Conservation Public Co., Ltd. (GENCO) leased this land from Mr. Nopporn, but no legal-signed contract was made between both parties. This area has been used to store industrial hazardous waste before being delivered to the lime incinerator owned by Asoke Chemical Co., Ltd. In the incident, a backhoe was crushing and rolling 200-liter metal tanks, containing mixed chemical waste and filled into a newly dug pond in that area. This action was taken without any proper measure to prevent soil contamination while some chemical waste was absorbed onto the ground, causing bad smells of chemicals spreading nearby. The hazardous waste found in the event was some used lubricant, waste of paint, used organic dissoluble substances, residue waste from the wastewater treatment system, asphalt, and other material, contaminated by chemicals, etc. The Pollution Control Department, the Department of Groundwater Resources, the Department of Underground Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, the Regional Environment Office 11, the Department of Industrial Works, and Nakhon Ratchasima Province have investigated facts and monitored problems, analyse the impact of the environment, and periodically submitted progress reports, describing their performance to the Cabinet. Actions undertaken and performance could be summarized below. The Cabinet assigned related governmental agencies to take the following actions : 1. The Ministry of Industry ë To collect all hazardous waste as well as contaminated soil in such area, and urgently eradicate them under proper disposal or destruction methods. ë To investigate and find out responsible person (s) for this incident, and to take other actions in compliance with related rules, regulations, and laws. ë To prohibit the test of industrial hazardous waste disposal in the incinerator or destruction by other methods, except the exact term of disposal, and the amount of hazardous waste to be tested for disposal method(s) would be set up properly and clearly. ë To set up both the inventory system and manifest tracking system for industrial hazardous waste in order to learn the generation, storage, removal, and disposal, of hazardous waste to prevent illegal dumping and improper/illegal disposal means. These systems had to be updated conveniently to ease the control and tracking of such waste. ë To issue rules and regulations concerning the document system for more strict control of industrial hazardous waste.
THAILAND STATE OF 60 POLLUTION REPORT 2004 2. The Assignment of Nakhon Ratchasima Province to extend the investigation results to get the assigner and payer, as well as a group of related persons to illegally undertake that action for further taking legal actions against them. 3. The Assignment of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to follow up and examine the contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water in surrounding areas as the observation of impact to the environment and the public. Hazardous Waste Removal General Environmental Conservation Public Co., Ltd. or GENCO moved out all hazardous waste from the aforesaid area. The hazardous waste consisted of 8,786 waste tanks; both empty and full tanks contained hazardous waste, contaminated water approximately 356.5 cubic meters, soil around 668.44 cubic meters and 5 mud containers, All of these were delivered to GENCOûs waste disposal facility center located at Rayong Province. Moreover, the surface of contaminated soil in the area of 0 - 2 meters depth, or about 5,920 tons of contaminated soil was technically stabilized and landfilled at GENCOûs waste disposal center facility.
Before Removal After Removal After Land Leveling
Monitoring Impacts to Environmental Quality after Hazardous Waste Removal 1. The Department of Environmental Quality Promotion joined hands with the Regional Environment Office 11 and the Pollution Control Department to monitor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in contaminated soil in the area of 1-meter depth, covering 220 x 140 sq.m., and VOCs were found widerspread in the area of 20,400 sq.m. 2. The Regional Environment Office 11 and the Pollution Control Department have continuously observed this problem by collecting some water sample from artesian wells in communities located around the incident. It was found that most quality of water remained in the normal condition without any contamination in groundwater resources. 3. The Pollution Control Department has examined the ground contamination in the area between 1, 1.5 and 2 meters depth, including groundwater resources. After GENCO sliced off the contaminated ground surface for further disposal, the Company found VOCs (such as Benzene Trichloro Ethylene, and 1,1,2 - Trichloroethane), which exceeded the standard limits at some points. According to the monitoring in 3 observed ponds, newly dug, by the Department of Groundwater Resources around the incident as observed ponds was found that the amount of VOCs in the water (such as Benzene Trichloro Ethylene, and 1,1,2 - Trichloroethane) exceeded the standard value.
THAILAND STATE OF POLLUTION REPORT 2004 61 4. The Department of Underground Resources had a land survey by means of geological physics around the area used for the illegal landfill of hazardous waste. The survey revealed that there was a sliding trace passing the hazardous waste landfill to the Northwest, crossed the Mitrapap Road at Km. 153. Whereas the flowing channel of groundwater related with such slicing trace, the characteristics of groundwater levels, found around the surveyed field from the depth levels at 10 meters to 120 meters, would depend on such slicing trace. Finding out Offenders and Responsible Persons The Provincial Police Station, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, which was responsible for this case, reported that 3 alleged offenders surrendered themselves to the police : an owner of backhoe and 2 backhoe drivers. In addition, the police seized two backhoes used for the waste landfill as the evidence to be enclosed in the file of the inquiry, and interrogated those persons as the evidence to be enclosed in the file of the inquiry. The police also issued a warrant of arrest Mr. Dam or Mr. Samrit Yod-In, the alleged offender who was the assigner and payer, and informed suspended persons expected to deal with this illegal action of the allegation. Future Actions The Pollution Control Department in cooperation with the Regional Environment Office 11, the Department of Groundwater Resources, and the Department of Underground Resources will have an area survey in the incident and thoroughly examine the spread of VOCs in the groundwater. Additionally, 10 observed underground ponds will be dug, and both the contamination in underground sources in those observed ponds and the general peopleûs artesian wells will be periodically monitored.
THAILAND STATE OF 62 POLLUTION REPORT 2004