Where to take hazardous waste in Thailand

Hazardous waste releases toxic substances when it breaks or decomposes. Disposed of wrongly just once, heavy metals can contaminate soil and groundwater for decades.

What counts as hazardous waste

Batteries and electrical

Batteries of every size (AA, AAA, button cells)
Phone batteries, laptop batteries, power banks
Car and motorcycle batteries

Light bulbs

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs — these contain mercury
Incandescent and LED bulbs — less dangerous, but still better separated

Chemicals

Insecticide and weed killer
Bathroom cleaner and bleach
Aerosol cans, spray paint, thinner

Medicine and cosmetics

Expired medicine and leftover prescriptions
Expired cosmetics, nail polish remover
Needles (must be sealed in a rigid container first)

Where you can drop it off

1. Red bins in public places — shopping malls, BTS and MRT stations, office buildings and many public parks provide bins for hazardous waste. You can find the nearest recorded ones on the maps on this site.

2. Manufacturer take-back — most phone shops accept old batteries, and car parts shops take back car batteries, usually with a discount on the replacement.

3. District office or municipality — many areas run a monthly hazardous waste collection day. It is worth asking your local district office or municipality.

4. Pharmacies and hospitals — specifically for expired medicine; many pharmacies keep a take-back box.

Why it must not go in with general waste

Most general waste in Thailand ends up in landfill. When a battery or a fluorescent tube breaks there, cadmium, lead and mercury dissolve into rainwater and seep into the groundwater below.

A single battery can contaminate hundreds of litres of water to the point where it is no longer drinkable, and mercury from light bulbs accumulates up the food chain, coming back to people through fish and seafood.

How to store it until you can drop it off

Keep it in a separate box — never mixed with other waste; a plastic box with a lid works well
Tape over battery terminals — clear tape prevents short circuits and sparks, especially with lithium batteries
Wrap bulbs in thick paper — stops them shattering in transit
Do not store it anywhere hot — a swollen or unusually warm lithium battery is a fire risk and should be taken away promptly
Keep it away from children — button cells are extremely dangerous if swallowed

Signs a battery needs to go immediately

If a battery shows any of these, stop using it and take it to a hazardous waste point straight away rather than keeping it in the house: the casing is swollen or bulging, it gets unusually hot while charging, liquid is leaking out, there is a sharp chemical smell, or the device keeps shutting down while the battery still shows charge.

Frequently asked questions

Can batteries go in the general waste bin?

No. Batteries are hazardous waste containing heavy metals and must go in a red bin or a hazardous waste collection point. A single battery can contaminate hundreds of litres of groundwater.

Are LED bulbs hazardous waste?

LED bulbs do not contain mercury the way fluorescent tubes do, so they are far less dangerous. They still contain electronic circuitry, so they are best treated as electronic waste or put in the red bin.

Can I flush expired medicine down the toilet?

Strongly discouraged. The active compounds contaminate waterways and sewage treatment cannot filter them out, which contributes to antibiotic resistance over time. Return them to a pharmacy or put them in a hazardous waste bin.

How do I dispose of an old power bank?

It is hazardous waste because of the lithium battery. Tape over the terminals and take it to a hazardous waste point, or return it to a phone accessory shop. Never put it in general waste, where it can catch fire during transport.

📱 Open the bin map on your phone Bin Locator navigates you to the nearest bin and lets you pin new ones you find. Free on Google Play.