PHANAT NIKHOM, THAILAND – Nearly 200 residents protested against a plastic recycling plant they said continued operating despite an official shutdown order and months of strong odors.
Residents rally over persistent stench
On 7 December 2025, nearly 200 residents from villages 8 and 9 in the subdistricts Nongprue and Hua Thanon gathered in front of a plastic recycling facility in the Phanat Nikhom district of Chonburi province. The plant specialized in melting plastic waste, and fumes allegedly escaping for months had severely affected daily life in nearby communities.
License revoked after inspections
Earlier in the year, the district’s responsible industrial authorities inspected the facility. Inspectors found that odors from the production significantly affected residents, ordered an immediate halt to operations and revoked the plant’s operating license.
Despite these measures, locals reported that the plant had allegedly continued operating in secret. They said trucks carrying electronic waste and plastic materials were still regularly entering the site to be recycled and that the acrid smell had never disappeared.
Access blocked, protesters turn to media
On 7 December, frustrated residents tried to enter the factory grounds to document possible violations with photos and video. Staff at the facility reportedly blocked their access at the gate.
The protesters then turned to the public and contacted media representatives. One demonstrator said:
“We have been suffering from this terrible smell for months. The authorities already closed this factory, but it is still running secretly. We cannot sleep, children are getting sick, and nobody is doing anything lasting about it.”
said a demonstrator, local resident.
Calls for strict inspections and legal action
Residents called for decisive action from several agencies, including the Office of Industrial Works, local municipal authorities and the relevant environmental and air quality agencies. They demanded a comprehensive new inspection of the plant and firm legal measures over alleged violations of the closure order and applicable environmental regulations.
Local community representatives said they would maintain pressure until the facility was permanently shut down, the odor problem ended and those responsible were held accountable under the law.
Authorities silent as tensions rise
So far, there had been no official response from the responsible authorities to the latest protest. Residents stated they were ready to intensify their actions if there was no swift and resolute answer.
The case in Phanat Nikhom highlighted the conflicts that could arise around recycling plants when health protection and environmental rules were, in the view of the population, not enforced sufficiently.