In Thailand, the two major obstacles to improving the recovery of waste plastics are the lack of systematic sorting and collection systems and the resulting contamination from the mixing of plastics with other solid wastes. Furthermore, the informal sector, which is mainly responsible for the plastic waste management system in Thailand, is unsystematic. To achieve a reduction of plastic leakage, guidelines must also be developed for the informal waste sector as it plays a major role in the recycling activities of Thailand.

The overall objective of the technical guideline is to prevent plastics and resin leakage into the marine environment through the promotion of best technologies and practices at resin-producing factories and informal recycling facilities in Pattaya city.

This guidelines is published by the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP) of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) with support from ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris under the project "Development and Dissemination of Technical Guidelines for Plastics and Resin Pellets Leakage Prevention from Factories and Informal Recycling Sector in the ASEAN".