Bangkok: "Sergeant Singh" conducted a thorough inspection of the "BWG" billion-baht waste processing plant, transforming it from a problematic factory into a model facility. He highlighted five key points to be implemented simultaneously for sustainable coexistence with the community.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Minister of Industry, Chief Petty Officer Yotsing Liemlert, visited the site to follow up on complaints from villagers regarding the discharge of waste from the BWG landfill and industrial waste treatment plant. BWG is a company closely watched by the public as one of the country's leading waste processing plants. During the visit, accompanied by a delegation and regulatory officials, the Deputy Minister received a report on the overall operations and inspected the issues raised by villagers in Moo 3 and Moo 8, Huai Haeng Subdistrict. Water samples were collected from four locations, and it was found that a section of the plant was discharging water with BOD levels exceeding standards. The Deputy Minister ordered corrective measures under Section 37 and emphasized strict compliance with factory laws.
Further investigation revealed that the discharged water was "not from the production process" but rather rainwater that may have washed dirt from the factory floor into the contaminated area. However, the Deputy Minister emphasized that regardless of the type of water, any loophole must be sealed. He also outlined immediate solutions: closing the pipe openings and redirecting the water flow to the factory's rainwater collection pond, preventing further discharge outside the area.
What made this inspection "different from previous ones" was the clear, positive communication. The Deputy Minister thanked the business operators for their sincerity in expediting the resolution process and emphasized that the ministry is ready to support business operators who are doing the right thing-because the goal is not just to fix immediate problems, but to raise standards to a higher level so that they can serve as an example.
A key highlight that has been widely discussed is the construction project of a wall surrounding the landfill, valued at over 2,000,000,000 baht. This is hailed as a serious investment in structural protection and site management, reflecting a "show it, don't just talk" approach to build community confidence and elevate environmental standards.
Petty Officer 1st Class Yotsing also highlighted five key points that entrepreneurs must address simultaneously to coexist sustainably with the community: employing local workers, reducing costs and traffic problems, controlling odors from landfills to prevent community impact, increasing green spaces, reducing dust from business operations, prohibiting wastewater discharge into public water sources, and fostering unity through CSR initiatives that generate income and improve the quality of life in the area.
Petty Officer 1st Class Yotsing summarized the clear direction: the government, entrepreneurs, and communities must work together. The government must provide strict oversight, entrepreneurs must comply with regulations and exceed standards, and the community must be able to thrive without negative impacts. This is the balance that allows factories that are under scrutiny to become model factories.