POLICE have collected more than 600,000 riels (US$143) in fines from people who have been caught littering in public this month, and the waste-collection company Cintri plans to place more rubbish bins in high-traffic areas to aid the city’s renewed anti-littering campaign, officials said Wednesday.

Last month, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema authorised police to collect fines of 10,000 riels from people caught littering in public beginning May 1.

Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Mann Chhoeun said Wednesday that the total amount collected in fines was greater than 600,000 riels, but added that the municipal Environment Department would be able to provide a precise figure.

Chiek Ang, the department’s director, declined to comment on Wednesday, telling a reporter to send questions in a letter.

Mann Chhoeun said the new campaign was intended to encourage residents and tourists “to be good citizens by not throwing rubbish everywhere on the roads”.

“We want to change the attitude of the people and turn their attention towards contributing to the beautification of the city,” he said.

Seng Chamroeun, Cintri’s vice chairman, said Wednesday that City Hall had requested that more trash cans be placed outside.

“We have received instructions from City Hall to put trash cans at three main public places, which are markets, public gardens and entertainment centres,” he said. “People like walking and littering at those places.

“The places where we are putting trash cans are the dirtiest zones, where people lack knowledge of the environment,” he said.

He said Cintri had already placed new trash cans along Sihanouk and Monireth boulevards.