They are willing to pay an average of Bt5,180 above the average PC price of Bt35,000 if the computer is environmentally friendly, the survey found.

Around 64 per cent of those interviewed said manufacturers of electrical products should take responsibility for hazardous waste, the survey concluded.

Conducted by Britain's Mori Social Research Institute, the survey interviewed 1,005 urban Thais aged over 15 and conducted similar studies in another nine countries.

 "It is a very good sign that public awareness on electronics waste [e-waste] is growing significantly in Thailand," campaigner Kittikhun Kittiaram of Greenpeace Southeast Asia said yesterday.

"It tells manufacturers to move to greener processes," he said.

Kittikhun said Thailand was facing an increasing e-waste problem following the rapid growth of the electronics industry.

In 2003, e-waste amounted to approximately 58,000 tonnes and it is growing at an alarming rate of 12 per cent a year, according to the Pollution Control Department (PCD) forecast.

Since 2003, more than 5.2 million computers have been sold and they will soon be added to the e-waste mountain, Greenpeace said.

"Almost all the waste accumulates in junkyards and dirty recycling operations, without proper management. There are high risks to workers and the environment," Kittikhun said.

The campaigners urged

Thai electrical manufacturers

not use double standards

between the quality of products sold domestically and in developed countries.

Greenpeace plans to use its booth at Thailand's Commart X exhibition, which runs until Monday, to boost awareness of the issue and call on manufacturers to implement "take back" recycling policies.

Kamol Sukin

The Nation