Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Plastic-free Khmer New Year for Siem Reap village

Plastic-free Khmer New Year for Siem Reap village

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Banteay Srei district governor Khim Finan meets with Preah Dak villagers to discuss reducing the use of plastic during New Year on Sunday. KHIM FINAN VIA FACEBOOK

Plastic-free Khmer New Year for Siem Reap village

The Banteay Srei district administration in Siem Reap province launched a plastic-free campaign for Khmer New Year by encouraging vendors to use lotus and banana leaves for packaging – in a drive to reduce the use of plastic and protect the environment.

District governor Khim Finan said that with the voluntary participation of all vendors on the roads through Preah Dak commune and village, authorities hope to launch the campaign “Plastic-Free Preah Dak” for a full week from April 11-17 through the Khmer New Year holiday.

He added that the move came after seeing the rubbish that always piles up following a festival, especially plastic food packaging, which ends up dumped on public streets.

The administration encouraged Preah Dak villagers to get into the habit of declining offered plastic bags and to raise awareness of reducing the use of plastic with visitors to the village, which has now become a tourist attraction. The campaign will also serve as a reminder that they should not dispose of garbage in an untidy manner.

“Most of the vendors and traders in Preah Dak village who sell grilled chicken and frogs will turn to using lotus leaves, banana leaves and banana strings for packaging instead. It is a better choice for the environment and supports the use local raw materials as well,” he said.

He added that those stores that follow the guidelines best and set an example for others will receive certificates and participation prizes from the district administration after the event.

Finan went on to say that while the Siem Reap provincial administration celebrated the Siem Reap Sangkran event, the district administration would hold a procession of giant scarecrows in Preah Dak village on April 13. This programme should attract tourists to the village and encourage them to buy cakes, food and other village products, giving locals the opportunity to earn extra income and improving the local economy.

The district administration provided more than 200 small peacock plants – donated by philanthropists – to the villagers and asked them to decorate the space in front of their homes and to keep the village clean. They are expected to manage garbage, and preserve an attractive environment before and after Khmer New Year. It is hoped this will build the village’s reputation as a model heritage village and a tourist destination.

Yan Sophea, a member of the environmental youth group Creal Cambodia, said the project was a good initiative that should reduce plastic use and raise awareness among the participants who come to the event. He asked all people to join the government in reducing plastic bags use – or recycling them – to enhance the environment.

“Wherever possible, we should not use plastic until it is unavoidable. For example, when we visit the market, we usually know what we are planning to buy, so it makes sense for us to prepare bags and or containers from home. This is just one simple way that we can reduce plastic use,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the