On April 9, 2025, Thailand Pollution Control Department (PCD) issued a notification prescribing the level of contamination of the waste paper imported into the Kingdom. The aims are to:
Clarify the duties of the PCD and other supervisory agencies
Ensure a transparent, efficient import process
Support the use of waste paper as raw material in Thailand's circular economy framework
1. Prohibited Substances
Waste paper to be imported into Thailand must not contain the following contaminants:
Chemicals and hazardous substances regulated under the law on hazardous substances.
Radioactive substances governed by the law on nuclear energy for peace.
Infectious waste according to the law on public health, such as human remains or body parts, animal carcasses, needles, blades, syringes, etc.
Toxic or hazardous waste from communities under the law on public health, such as mobile phone batteries, light bulbs, aerosol cans, insecticides, chemical containers, batteries, etc.
2. Contamination Levels
Imported waste paper may contain other contaminants such as plastics, metals, glass, synthetic materials, wood, soil, food waste, etc., but must not exceed the criteria specified in the table below:
Customs Tariff Code | Type of Waste Paper | Percentage of Non-Paper Contaminants (%) |
4707.10 | Recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard, consisting mainly of unbleached kraft paper or paperboard or of corrugated paper or paperboard | ≤ 2 |
4707.20 | Recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard, consisting mainly of bleached chemical pulp, not colored in the mass | ≤ 2 |
4707.30 | Recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard, consisting mainly of mechanical pulp (for example, newspapers, journals and similar printed matter) | ≤ 2 |
4707.40 | Other recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard, including unsorted waste and scrap | ≤ 3 |
3. Inspection
Pre-shipment inspection: Importers of waste paper should notify their trading partners or suppliers in the country of origin to inspect the level of contaminants in the waste paper to be imported into Thailand to comply with the buyer-seller agreement criteria.
On-arrival inspection: If Customs suspects that an import resembles municipal waste or otherwise exceeds contamination limits, it shall notify the PCD and any other relevant agencies to conduct a joint inspection.
