Waste

Overview

Waste is an increasing challenge in Cambodia due to rapid economic growth, urbanisation and rising populations. About 44% goes to landfills, whereas recycling, incineration, and composting play a relatively minor role. Waste Summit Cambodia is an annual summit that gathers relevant stakeholders in the waste industry to discuss creative waste solutions. The theme of 2023 was ‘Why Waste Separation Matters’ covering issues of overwhelming the current solid waste management system and significantly damaging both the environment and public health, from the lack of waste separation.  

Cambodia has limited waste management systems, especially in rural areas where there is commonly no system at all. In parts of major cities there are organised public waste management systems with bin collection. When waste is collected, it goes to landfill without treatment. Senmonorom has no recycling or other facilities to process waste materials like aluminium cans and plastic bottles. 

Rubbish pickers in major cities earn their living from collecting discarded plastic bottles or cans or scavenging in waste piles and selling them at depots, with most recyclable material like this exported to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries in the region where it is cheaper to process the raw materials (mainly due to the high electricity costs in Cambodia and recycling can be energy intensive).

In 2019, the organisation EcoBatt Energy Cambodia was established to focus on battery repair services. Over the past four years and in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, they have collected over seven tonnes of hazardous e-waste. The e-waste is exported to countries like Spain and South Korea, as Cambodia lacks the facilities to tackle e-waste.

Current situation

There is no formal waste management system or recycling facilities in place in Pu Ngaol. Most solid waste is collected by the women of the household and burned in a small pile outside homes. The primary and secondary schools have small brick incinerators to process waste produced on school grounds, such as plastic bags, plastic bottles and wet/food waste. Much of this waste that is incinerated is plastic and foam that releases toxic chemicals into the air.

Some people will go through waste and separate any valuable items themselves to sell Aluminium cans to local waste collectors who visit villages and take the cans to export, including to: Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Malaysia. Four aluminium cans can be sold for 100 riel (approximately $0.024 USD), and a 1 kg bag of cans gain 5,000 riel (approximately $1.25 USD). Plastic bottles are often sold or reused for other uses such as fishing tools or food storage until the plastic discolours. The majority of e-waste is thrown away with regular waste. Batteries once used will be thrown away with regular waste or left on the ground. Occasionally older devices that still work will be sold back onto the market. 

Agricultural waste includes all leaves, straw and husks left in the field after harvest, hulls and shells removed during crop processing, such as rice husks. Rice husks can be sold or used to feed pigs and ducks. Cow dung is commonly collected and used as fertiliser for rice paddies, bananas and can be sold by the kilogram. People who do not own cows will buy the fertiliser from those who do. 

Projects

15. Community recycling centres

Community Recycling centres can serve as collection points and hubs for waste segregation. What ideas can you come up with to establish local recycling centres where residents can drop off recyclable materials, including paper, cardboard, plastics, and electronics?

16. Waste segregation education

Providing guidance and education on how to separate recyclables, organics, and non-recyclables to the community is essential to people in the region. Can you come up with some ideas to conduct awareness campaigns and workshops to educate residents about the importance of waste segregation?

17. Repurposing waste

Organic compost offers the potential to enhance soil fertility while diminishing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers. What innovative approaches can be devised to inspire farmers to embrace the practice of composting organic agricultural waste, including crop residues, foliage, and food scraps?

18. Waste to energy 

Promoting the utilization of biodigesters for the decomposition of agricultural waste, encompassing crop residues, animal manure, and kitchen scraps, can be a sustainable solution. Furthermore, encouraging farmers to harness biogas as a clean energy source for cooking and lighting offers significant environmental and economic advantages. What ideas can you come up with to safely and sustainably manage agricultural waste in the community?