Reference
·Supporting source
Thailand overall recycling rate vs global benchmark
Thailand ~25-30% / OECD ~35-45%
Thailand's overall waste recycling rate (across plastics, paper, metals, glass) is estimated at 25-30% as of 2024 per Pollution Control Department and World Bank tracking, materially below the OECD average of 35-45% and well below leaders such as Germany (66%), South Korea (60%), and the Netherlands (57%). Material-recovery facilities are concentrated in Bangkok Metropolitan Region and the Eastern Economic Corridor; rural provinces still rely heavily on open dumpsite disposal. Extended Producer Responsibility regulation (draft EPR Act) is intended to shift the recycling-rate trajectory upward through 2030.
Figure in context
Thailand's overall waste recycling rate (across plastics, paper, metals, glass) is estimated at 25-30% as of 2024 per Pollution Control Department and World Bank tracking, materially below the OECD average of 35-45% and well below leaders such as Germany (66%), South Korea (60%), and the Netherlands (57%). Material-recovery facilities are concentrated in Bangkok Metropolitan Region and the Eastern Economic Corridor; rural provinces still rely heavily on open dumpsite disposal. Extended Producer Responsibility regulation (draft EPR Act) is intended to shift the recycling-rate trajectory upward through 2030.
Thailand's overall waste recycling rate (across plastics, paper, metals, glass) is estimated at 25-30% as of 2024 per Pollution Control Department and World Bank tracking, materially below the OECD average of 35-45% and well below leaders such as Germany (66%), South Korea (60%), and the Netherlands (57%). Material-recovery facilities are concentrated in Bangkok Metropolitan Region and the Eastern Economic Corridor; rural provinces still rely heavily on open dumpsite disposal. Extended Producer Responsibility regulation (draft EPR Act) is intended to shift the recycling-rate trajectory upward through 2030.
Time scope
FY2023-2024
Source basis
Supporting source
Interpretation notes
What this tells you
Thailand's overall waste recycling rate (across plastics, paper, metals, glass) is estimated at 25-30% as of 2024 per Pollution Control Department and World Bank tracking, materially below the OECD average of 35-45% and well below leaders such as Germany (66%), South Korea (60%), and the Netherlands (57%). Material-recovery facilities are concentrated in Bangkok Metropolitan Region and the Eastern Economic Corridor; rural provinces still rely heavily on open dumpsite disposal. Extended Producer Responsibility regulation (draft EPR Act) is intended to shift the recycling-rate trajectory upward through 2030.
What not to do with it
Comparison uses comparable PCD/World Bank methodologies. Thai informal-sector recycling is partly captured but methodologies vary across countries.
Related figures
Adjacent numbers that add context without drowning the value.
Thailand waste management sector revenue (2020-2024)
Pollution Control Department, Department of Industrial Works, Bangkok Post environment coverage, BWG annual report
Thailand waste composition split (MSW vs industrial vs hazardous)
Pollution Control Department annual report, Department of Industrial Works manifest data, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Thailand waste-to-energy installed capacity (2020-2024)
Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, PDP 2024, TPIPP/BWG/EA annual reports
Better World Green (BWG) revenue (2020-2024)
Better World Green Plc, SET filings, Bualuang Securities analyst coverage
Thailand PET bottle recycling rate
Thai Plastic Industry Association, Indorama Ventures, Pollution Control Department
Thai packaging exporter exposure to EU PPWR
EU Official Journal PPWR text, Thai Ministry of Commerce trade data, Thai Customs export statistics, DITP trade alerts
Report context
Atlas actors in this figure's reports
Profiles covered in the report that cite this number.