F RENCH firm Asia Pacific Development (APD) has taken control of the Phnom Penh

Municipality cleaning service, and is now responsible for collecting the city's

garbage and beautifying the environment.

APD President Yannick Mache

said: "APD will temporarily have to use existing garbage trucks and equipment

and repair some of the broken down trucks until new trucks and equipment arrive

from France. I don't know when the new equipment will arrive."

Mache

said: "It will take about six months to organize everything, its a big task." He

said the firm would not just concentrate on equipment but also on getting in

French managers and technicians to train Cambodian employees to provide good

service.

Last month APD entered a 25 year contract with the cash

strapped Phnom Penh municipality where APD would take control of the

municipalities garbage collection equipment and 717 employees; APD would earn

money from having the right to charge residents a "reasonable price" for the

collection of garbage, and in return would pay the municipality $55,000 per five

years for this right over the 25-year contract.

Mache said poor

households may get free garbage collection, while middle income households would

be charged $1 per month and collection rates for businesses were yet to be

determined.

Mache said: "APD was investing to make profits, while being

conscious of helping the country. We will spend $20 million on equipment and

building garbage dumping facilities and recycling factories."

He said:

"APD would pay Cambodian employees enough to cover basic living and would create

a bonus system for those who bear a heavy burden. Employees will be issued with

uniforms and face masks to protect themselves."

Mache, who has made 13

trips to Cambodia, said: "I have a good knowledge of Cambodians, they like

cleanliness, they take baths three times a day. They have discipline and are

eager to learn things, especially when given responsibility."

He said APD

would cooperate with local authorities in every district to coordinate action to

educate residents on garbage disposal.