Bangkok--17 Sep--Francom Asia
Located in Bang Phli, near Bangkok, a new SUEZ recycling plant is already under trial run in this post-COVID era, with a capacity of 30,000 tons of plastic packaging waste per year, enabling Thailand to reduce its annual CO2 emissions by 50,000 tons.
As revealed by a series of reports and statistics, Thailand is one of the world’s major contributors to plastic waste. Moreover, the amount of plastic waste increased further during the COVID-19 crisis, going nationwide from 5,000 tons to 6,300 tons a day.
In Bangkok only, the daily average amount of single-use plastics waste due to food-delivery services and online shopping rose from 2,115 tons in March to more than 3,400 tons in April.
Representing an investment of US$ 80 million, the SUEZ Bang Phli plant will convert 30,000 tons per year of locally collected low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) plastic film waste into high-quality post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR). This PCR will then be reused to manufacture other products, promoting a circular economy. Mainly generated by shopping malls, express logistics companies, beverage producers and electronics manufacturers, the collected plastic waste would have otherwise ended up in the environment.
Meeting the highest local environmental compliance standards, the 14,000 sqm plant will be equipped with an advanced water treatment system and rooftop solar panels that will help save 1.2 million m3 of water and prevent 50,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
SUEZ’s first plastic recycling plant in Asia, it will be a model for the rest of Southeast Asian countries. It will contribute to Thailand’s ambitious 2030 target to achieve 100% plastic recycling, helping ease the global plastic waste crisis.
Plastic recycling is a key market for SUEZ. Each year, the Group processes nearly 400,000 tons of plastic waste in nine specialist facilities in Europe and produces 150,000 tons of circular polymers. SUEZ is among the founding members of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, an international initiative launched in January 2019 to end plastic waste in the environment, especially in oceans.
SUEZ is also a member of Thailand PPP Plastics, an unprecedented collaboration of 61 members to address Thailand’s plastic marine debris.
SUEZ entered Thailand in the 1990s with several water projects with the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) in Bangkok. Currently, it is operating the Chonburi Clean Energy waste-to-energy plant together with WHA Utilities & Power and GLOW Energy.
This new plant is part of the Group's development strategy in Southeast Asia, where it has been supporting regional countries in improving their drinking water, sanitation and waste management services in response to a rapidly growing population.
About SUEZ:
Since the end of the 19th century, SUEZ has built expertise aimed at helping people to constantly improve their quality of life by protecting their health and supporting economic growth. With an active presence on five continents, SUEZ and its 90,000 employees strive to preserve our environment’s natural capital: water, soil, and air. SUEZ provides innovative and resilient solutions in water management, waste recovery, site remediation and air treatment, optimising municipalities’ and industries’ resource management through “smart” cities and improving their environmental and economic performance. The Group delivers sanitation services to 64 million people and produces 7.1 billion m3 of drinking water. SUEZ is also a contributor to economic growth, with more than 200,000 jobs created directly and indirectly on an annual basis, and a provider of new resources, with 4.2 million tonnes of secondary raw materials produced. By 2030, the Group is targeting 100% sustainable solutions, with a positive impact on our environment, health and climate. SUEZ generated total revenue of EUR18.0 billion in 2019.
About SUEZ in Asia
With a strong presence of 60+ years in South East Asia and 40+ years in Greater China, SUEZ is a preferred partner in helping authorities and industrial clients develop water and waste management solutions that enable cities and industries to optimize their resource management and strengthen their environment and economic performances. With 9,000+ employees and 70+ joint ventures with local partners, the Group has built 500+ water and wastewater plants, with 32+ million people benefiting from our water and waste services. Today, SUEZ is recognized as one of the most influential companies and a service benchmark in leading the region’s environmental industry. We operate China’s first PPP water contract in Macau, one of Asia's largest hazardous waste treatment facilities in Shanghai, as well as a plastic recycling plant in Thailand. It is also a leader in Hong Kong’s waste management industry and delivers environmental services to 20 industrial parks.