Reference
·Primary source
Thailand plastic waste generation (2024 baseline)
~6.2-7.5 Mt per year
Thailand generates an estimated 6.2-7.5 million tonnes per year of plastic waste, with roughly 60 percent classified as mismanaged by the Pollution Control Department and SCB EIC. Mechanical recycling reaches only the PET and HDPE rigid bottle stream (about 22 percent of total volume) and downcycles output into lower-grade non-food-contact products. The roughly 78 percent residue — mixed-polymer flexible packaging, multi-layer pouches, polystyrene, polypropylene tubs, end-of-life vehicle shredder residue, agricultural film — has no scaled mechanical pathway, framing the structural opportunity for pyrolysis, depolymerisation and gasification routes.
Figure in context
Thailand generates an estimated 6.2-7.5 million tonnes per year of plastic waste, with roughly 60 percent classified as mismanaged by the Pollution Control Department and SCB EIC. Mechanical recycling reaches only the PET and HDPE rigid bottle stream (about 22 percent of total volume) and downcycles output into lower-grade non-food-contact products. The roughly 78 percent residue — mixed-polymer flexible packaging, multi-layer pouches, polystyrene, polypropylene tubs, end-of-life vehicle shredder residue, agricultural film — has no scaled mechanical pathway, framing the structural opportunity for pyrolysis, depolymerisation and gasification routes.
Thailand generates an estimated 6.2-7.5 million tonnes per year of plastic waste, with roughly 60 percent classified as mismanaged by the Pollution Control Department and SCB EIC. Mechanical recycling reaches only the PET and HDPE rigid bottle stream (about 22 percent of total volume) and downcycles output into lower-grade non-food-contact products. The roughly 78 percent residue — mixed-polymer flexible packaging, multi-layer pouches, polystyrene, polypropylene tubs, end-of-life vehicle shredder residue, agricultural film — has no scaled mechanical pathway, framing the structural opportunity for pyrolysis, depolymerisation and gasification routes.
Time scope
2024 baseline; 2027 effective stream
Source basis
Primary source
Interpretation notes
What this tells you
Thailand generates an estimated 6.2-7.5 million tonnes per year of plastic waste, with roughly 60 percent classified as mismanaged by the Pollution Control Department and SCB EIC. Mechanical recycling reaches only the PET and HDPE rigid bottle stream (about 22 percent of total volume) and downcycles output into lower-grade non-food-contact products. The roughly 78 percent residue — mixed-polymer flexible packaging, multi-layer pouches, polystyrene, polypropylene tubs, end-of-life vehicle shredder residue, agricultural film — has no scaled mechanical pathway, framing the structural opportunity for pyrolysis, depolymerisation and gasification routes.
What not to do with it
Range reflects PCD plus SCB EIC midpoint estimates; mismanaged share figure rounded to 60 percent in line with PCD 2024 reporting.
Related figures
Adjacent numbers that add context without drowning the value.
Thailand chemical recycling revenue (THB billion, 2024-2028)
IRPC, SCG Chemicals, PTT Global Chemical, Bangchak, Indorama Ventures, PCD, BOI, SCB EIC
Thailand chemical recycling technology mix (2027 modelled)
IRPC, SCG, PTTGC, Bangchak, Indorama Ventures, Energy Absolute, Banpu, BASF ChemCycling, ISCC PLUS
Thailand installed pyrolysis nameplate capacity (kt per year, 2027)
IRPC, SCG Chemicals, PTT Global Chemical, Bangchak, BSRC, Banpu, Energy Absolute, BOI Section 8 promoted projects queue
Thailand pyrolysis capex per kilotonne (USD million)
SCG Chemicals, PTT Global Chemical, Bangchak, IRPC, Indorama Ventures, EPC tender summaries, BOI promoted projects filings
Thailand mass-balance recycled polymer ASP (USD per MT, 2027 base)
IRPC, SCG, PTTGC, Indorama Ventures, BASF ChemCycling, ISCC PLUS, Coca-Cola, Unilever, EU CBAM Phase 2 legislative acts
Thailand chemical recycling operator concentration (2027 share)
IRPC, SCG, PTTGC, BCP, BSRC, IVL, EA, Banpu, BASF, TIPMSE, BOI promoted projects
Report context
Atlas actors in this figure's reports
Profiles covered in the report that cite this number.