Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

Thailand

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2025/08/27

Policy Framework

National Action Plan

Name(Year):
● Thailand Maritime Strategy

Brief Description:
At present, the Marine Department of Thailand does not have a specific action plan or strategy dedicated to marine plastic litter. There is only a general strategy that addresses marine pollution as a whole.

Vision : Thailand will ensure the consistent, effective and efficient implementation of applicable IMO instruments and will improve the national public and private bodies’ capability, whilst contributing to the enhancement of global and regional safety of life at sea and prevention of pollution by ships.

Strategic Objective
SO2 : Prevent or minimize local, regional and global marine pollution by ships

SO3 : Increase effectiveness of the State regarding implementation and enforcement of IMO instruments

Target : 2.6 - Adequate and efficient Port Reception Facilities
Target : 3.2 - Stimulation of the culture of maritime safety and environmental protection

In Preparation

However, the Marine Department has recently joined the LegLitter Project, which aims to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter originating from sea-based sources. The project is currently in its initial phase.

Name:
Regional Litter Project (RegLitter)

Brief Description:
To prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from sea-based sources

Legal Framework

Name(Year):
Enhancement and Conservation of National Environment Quality Act ,B.E.2535 (1992)
Brief Description:
The Act provides a framework for environmental protection and covers various aspects related to environmental quality.

Name(Year):
Public Health Act ,B.E.2535 (1992)
Brief Description:
For the purpose of maintaining cleanliness and regulating the collection, transport, and disposal of sewage or waste.

Name(Year):
Energy Development and Promotion, B.E.2535 (1992)
Brief Description:
Promotion of Alternative Energy: Encouragement of the use of renewable and alternative energy sources to diversify energy supply.

Name(Year):
Navigation in Thai Waters Act B.E. 2456 (1913) and its amendments
Brief Description:
This Act empowers the Marine Department to control the discharge of waste from vessels, manage waste in port areas, and maintain the marine and coastal environment related to navigation.

■ In Preparation
Name: (Draft) Packaging Act
Brief Description:
The Act is supported by EPR approach to cover entire life cycle of the products. Prohibition of the manufacturing and importation of certain types of single-use packaging which may have adverse impacts on the environment or health.

Indicators and/or Targets

■ Plastic Recycling:
Indicators: Percentage of Targeted Plastic Recycled
Targets (if any): 100% in 2027

■ Plastic Use Reduction:

■ Plastic to Alternatives, such as Glass, Paper or Bioplastics:

■ Beach Cleanup:

Brief Description:
Marine Department have the system which only collect the data about the volume of all waste from ships but not specific for plastic waste.

Technical Standards, Guidelines and Methodologies

Topics
■ Production / Manufacturing ■ Waste Management / Recycling ■ Leakage Monitoring
Brief Description:
The Marine Department adheres to international conventions such as MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Annex V concerning the discharge of garbage from ships. We also implement guidelines for proper waste management within port areas and navigable waters, including procedures for handling waste reception facilities and monitoring waste discharge.

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Measures

Measures across Value Chain
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design (example: improved durability, reparability, recyclability, reduction of material use per product…etc.) Yes

Specific Measures:
Recyclability, reduction of material use per product

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives, recycled materials at production stage. In Preparation

Specific Measures:
■ Use of Recycled Materials
■ Closed-loop Recycling
 
Brief Description:
The Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018-2030, and Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management Phase I (2018-2023), Phase II (2024-2027) promote and encourage to use plastic alternatives, recycled materials etc.

Steps taken towards restricting microplastics in products. Yes

Specific Measures:
Targeted Products
■ Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
 
Brief Description:
The Announcement of the Ministry of Public Health to prohibit the manufacturing or import cosmetics containing plastic microbeads since 1st January 2020.
Reduce single-use plastic (shopping bags, straws etc.) by regulations or voluntary measures (such as ban, levy, others) Yes

■ Regulatory Measures (ex: production ban, Ban on use..etc)
Brief Description:
No plastic products in the national parks
- Ban plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers in National Parks/Zoological Center.

■ Informational Measures (guideline, standards…etc.)
Brief Description:
- Voluntary programme: “Every say no to plastic bag”

Brief Description:
- MOU on reducing single-use plastic in food delivery platform
- Reduce using plastic bags and ban polystyrene foam food containers in the government offices
- Campaign “Reduction of plastic bags in local markets/supermarkets”

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Introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) In Preparation
Targeted Products Used packaging – such as glass, paper, metal, plastic and composite materials
Nature of Responsibility ■ Financial Responsibility
■ Operational Responsibility
■ Collective Producer Responsibility
■ Individual Producer Responsibility
Modality Mandatory EPR
■ Product Take Back
■ Deposit Refund System
■ Drop Off Points 		Voluntary EPR
■ Product Stewardship Initiative
■ CSR Initiative
Eco-modulation
(if applicable)
 ■ Fees Modulated Based on Recyclability of Products

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Improve waste management and recycling system Yes

Specific Measures:
Waste separation at sources (household waste separation)
Promoting plastic waste re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities Yes

Specific Measures:
Promoting reuse/refill system to reduce waste

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Install capturing trap/filter on drainage/river Yes

Specific Measures:
Annual report the number of litters in pieces and by weight
Conduct clean-up activities in rivers/ wetlands/ beaches/ coasts/ coral reefs/ sea floor, involving local communities involving local communities Yes

Specific Measures:
Annual report the number of litters in pieces and by weight from all activities

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Issue-specific Measures
＜1＞ Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)
Taken/to be taken National Level Action and/or Community Level Action on Clean sea initiatives including ghost net retrieval, ocean-bound plastics etc. Yes

Specific Measures:
Report the ALDFG found by weight
Taken actions for preventing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) being generated. -
Created/creating collection/recycling mechanism for ALDFG -
＜2＞ Port Waste Reception
For waste management in ports, please provide details regarding their solid waste management practices/facilities including:
Whether there is an applicable legal framework Yes

Brief Description:
Port Management Authority
 
Navigation in Thai Waters Act, Marine Department Regulations on Waste Management from Ships, MARPOL Convention.

The institution(s) responsible for (or playing a central role in, if voluntary action) managing the waste from ships? (example: port management authority, fishers' association...etc.) Yes

Brief Description:
Port management authority, Fisher’s association, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

 
Marine Department, Port Authority of Thailand, Local Administrative Organizations, Private Port Operators.
Whether ports possess waste reception facilities/systems to handle solid waste from ships, the volume of waste collected and the percentage of ports with waste reception facilities? Yes

Brief Description:
Most major commercial ports in Thailand have waste reception facilities for ships, compliant with MARPOL regulations. These facilities cater to various types of solid waste generated on board vessels.

Volume of Waste Collected:
Approximately X tons/year from major ports.
 
Percentage of Ports with Waste Reception Facilities:
Percentage
The handling procedures for each distinct waste stream once onshore. Yes

Brief Description:
Waste from ships is initially segregated on board and at port reception facilities before being transported to authorized waste management contractors for further treatment or recycling, depending on the waste type.

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Partnership and Innovation
Boost multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising Yes
Encourage/ Incentivize action by private sector companies to reduce/ sustainably manage their plastic waste. Yes
Encourage public awareness on MPL issues through formal education system and/or curriculum for -
Promote innovative solutions through Research & Development (e.g., subsidy program, investment fund etc.) Yes
Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL
Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of plastic products. What are the challenges if LCA is not conducted? -
Conduct Material Flow Analysis (MFA) on plastics. What are the challenges if MFA is not conducted? Yes

Scope: ■ National
Challenges (if applicable):

Without conducting a Material Flow Analysis (MFA), decision-making becomes less effective due to the lack of accurate data on material inputs, outputs, and losses. This could lead to inefficient resources use, miss opportunities for reuse and recycling, and poorly designed waste management systems. It also creates significant barriers to transitioning toward circular economy, as material leakages and recovery potential remain unclear. Furthermore, the absence of MFA makes it difficult to monitor progress, evaluate policy impacts, and coordinate efforts among stakeholders. Ultimately, this can result in environmental harm, economic losses, and missed opportunities for sustainable development.
Conduct monitoring / estimation / scientific research on leakage of plastics/microplastics to the natural environment and/or flow of ocean surface.
What are the challenges if these actions are not conducted? 		Yes

Specific Measures:
■ Established a Monitoring/Reporting Program/Mechanism
■ Regularly Conduct Monitoring/Estimation/Scientific Research
■ Conduct Monitoring/Scientific Research

Scope: ■ Local ■ National ■ Macro Plastics ■ Microplastics （<5㎜） ■ Ocean

Brief Description:
Conduct monitoring on leakage of microplastic in the sea, monitoring macro-debris in the natural environment

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International Collaboration
Participate in international cooperation through international organizations, multi-national groups, etc. Yes

Specific Measures:
Marine Department is a party to and actively participates in international conventions related to marine pollution prevention, such as MARPOL, and engages in regional cooperation activities and meetings and projects concerning marine litter management such as GloLitter and RegLitter.

Support target region by your international cooperation initiatives/projects: South, Central and Southeast Asia Yes

Target Regions:
■ South East Asia

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Challenges

■ Recycling System Improvement

Specific Challenges:
Some recyclable materials can be recycled in theory, but not in practice. Theses include the lack of appropriate recycling technologies or infrastructure, especially for complex or multi-layer materials. Economic challenges also play a role, as the cost of recycling may exceed the value of the recovered materials. Contamination from food or other waste can render materials unrecyclable, and poor product design-such as mixed materials-further complicates the process. Additionally, low collection rates and weak market demand for recycled products make it difficult to recycle some materials. Effectively. As a result, many theoretically recyclable end up in landfills or incinerators.

■ Proper Waste Management System (Including Lack of Local Capacity)

■ Data Collection Related to Marine Plastic Litter

Specific Challenges:
Inconsistent data collection from various sources; lack of standardized data collection systems for marine plastic litter in areas under Marine Department's responsibility.

■ Lack of Financial Incentives for Waste Treatment in General

■ Lack of Financial Incentives for Technology Development

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Best Practices

■ Local/Community Level 
■ Private Sector Initiative

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Further Information

www.dmcr.go.th

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Contact Details

Name: Vararin Vongpanich
Position: Biodiversity Specialist
Organization: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
Email: khunvara@yahoo.com

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