PHNOM Penh Municipality received the "sustainable environment" award at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations environment meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday due to its effort to improve sanitation and make the city more environmentally friendly.

"Phnom Penh has been successful in collecting battery waste, which puts it a step ahead of other Asean countries," said deputy governor Mann Chhoeun.

One of Phnom Penh's districts will also be selected to receive an environment award at Asean's environment meeting in Singapore in 2009, he said, adding that Daun Penh, along the river, is the city's model district.