Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Trash collection way up

Trash collection way up

A Cintri worker cleans up a back log of garbage in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district.
A Cintri worker cleans up a back log of garbage in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district. Pha Lina

Trash collection way up

Cambodia’s solid waste collection has increased more than 40 percent over the last five years, according to an official and the Ministry of Environment’s annual report released on Monday.

The rubbish collected in the country jumped to 1,423,923 tonnes in 2017, from 990,199 tonnes in 2012, according to the report – a 43.5 percent increase. From 2016 to 2017 alone, trash collection went up 12.5 percent. “The situation of waste management, solid waste nationwide, in 2017 is better than [in] the previous years,” the report reads.

Dy Kiden, director of the Ministry of Environment’s Solid Waste Department, attributed the increase in waste collection to three factors: population increases, expanded waste collection and improving livelihoods, which have led to greater consumption and, in turn, more trash.

“The sub-national administration paid more attention to environmental issues, collection and transport, and some disorder [with] waste piles was eliminated in [cities’] downtowns,” the report said.

Additionally, the Ministry of Environment spent 21 billion riel (about $5.25 million) to target 26 towns across the country from 2015 to 2017 to implement solid and liquid waste management, Environment Minister Say Sam Al said during a speech on Monday.

The report’s data on solid waste came from 79 dumpsites across the Kingdom in 2017. This year, there were also 462 recycling depots, 17 more than last year.

Still, Heng Yonkora, executive director of Community Sanitation and Recycling Organization, said the country still lacks enough recycling services, particularly for light plastics and foam materials.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.