DIW reports on progress in industrial waste management, over 3,200 tons still remaining in the "Aek Uthai" case.
- Kanokwan Olanrungreang
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
On May 20, 2026, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works (DIW), attended a meeting with the Senate Committee on Commerce and Industry. The meeting aimed to follow up on the progress of resolving the illegal dumping cases in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province (the case involving Aek Uthai Co., Ltd.), with representatives from relevant agencies.
Following the DIW's discovery in 2022 of extensive illegal dumping and improper management of industrial waste and chemical waste in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, the DIW ordered a shutdown of operations and revoked the factory's operating license in 2023. This action was taken after the facility failed to improve its operations properly and continued illegal dumping despite previous remediation orders. [1] To manage the remaining industrial waste and restore the area, the DIW allocated a budget of over 80 million baht in fiscal year 2025 to manage waste across three urgent cases: 1) Aek Uthai Co., Ltd. (Uthai Branch), 2) Suntech Chemical & Logistics Co., Ltd., and 3) the hazardous chemical warehouse (Phachi Warehouse). [2] For the case of Aek Uthai Co., Ltd. (Uthai Branch), the DIW evaluated the waste and hazardous chemical substances, estimating a total weight of approximately 7,880 tons, and has contracted a private company to handle.
Phase 1: High-risk acidic waste totaling 400 tons, utilizing a budget of 3,985,750 baht, which was fully completed in January 2025.
Phase 2: Degraded acids/alkalis, chemicals, and sludge totaling 518.6 tons, utilizing a budget of 5,695,246 baht.
The DIW has continuously supervised and regulated the industrial waste management process in the area. Currently, a cumulative total of 968 tons of industrial waste has been treated and disposed. For fiscal year 2026, the DIW has been allocated an additional budget of 30 million baht to dispose of the remaining above-ground industrial waste in the area (excluding the landfilled and contaminated subsurface waste), which is initially estimated at 3,207 tons. This project is currently in procurement approval, and the winning bidder will be announced shortly. Upon completion, the DIW will aggressively pursue legal action against Aek Uthai Co., Ltd. to fully recover all expenses incurred by the law. [3]
Furthermore, the DIW will amend relevant laws to make them more stringent. Proposed changes include requiring factories to provide financial guarantees, establishing an industrial fund, increasing fine rates, and increasing legal penalties, particularly prison sentences for the illegal dumping or improper disposal of industrial waste, in order to enhance measures to uproot this systemic issue entirely.
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