Recycling in Cambodia
What a wonderful country Cambodia is: breathtaking temples, delicious food, amazing culture… and trash. A lot of trash. A 5 minutes walk around any city is enough to realize that Cambodia has a problem with waste management. The streets are filled with garbage and waste pickers often bike around with a huge amount of cans, plastic or cardboard. But what happens to this waste? And what is actually done regarding recycling in Cambodia ?
Recycling: the current situation
Phnom Penh generates around 1 million tonnes of munipal waste per year according to recent estimates. While most of this waste is organic (51.9%), plastic waste (which contributes to around 20.9% of the waste) is on the rise. Some of this plastic trash is currently sent away to recycle, but the percentage of waste that actually gets recycled is unclear, as is the future of recycling in Cambodia.
What can be recycled ?
In Cambodia, cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminium cans and metal are the main items that get recycled. Some building materials such as steel are also easy to recycle. For other waste such as e-waste, the waste pickers might sometimes collect them to re-sell their different components. For food waste, farmers collect the leftovers from street vendors and restaurants to give to their pigs. Some companies (such as COMPED in Battambang) are also starting to take food scrap to create compost.
It is also possible for restaurants and hotels to recycle their used cooking oil thanks to Naga Earth. Naga Earth collects the oil and up-cycle it into biodiesel and soap (you can contact them at info@nagaearth.org if interested).
How is the recycling waste collected and where does it go?
The waste pickers (or edjai) collect recyclable waste in the streets or dumpsites to sell to bigger collectors (recycling depot). These collectors might send them to recycling facilities in Cambodia (e.g. for paper) although there are very few recycling plants in the country at the moment. As a result, they send most of the waste to neighbouring countries, such as Thailand or Vietnam.
However, this is coming to an end as imported waste and especially plastic waste has increased tremendously in these countries. This follows China’s decision to ban most of imported solid waste in 2017. From taking 45% of the world’s plastic waste created since 1992, China was only taking 1% of the waste in 2018, leaving the burden to other countries. As a result, Vietnam decided to stop issuing license to import plastic waste last year. Thailand is also set to follow this example by banning all plastic waste imports by 2021.
Cambodia: a wake up call?
This therefore raises concerns as to where Cambodia will be able to send its recyclable waste. The situation is however not hopeless as we observe the creation of initiatives to deal with waste management in Cambodia.
New recycling facilities in Cambodia
In 2016, the Japanese company Gomi Recycle 110 announced their plan to build a factory to recycle plastic waste into furniture. The factory, based in the Svay Rieng region, is planned to open in April 2019, although there was no updates available about the project as of March 2019. Also, in October 2018, LingHang Investment Development Co Ltd was in discussion with the authorities to open a recycling facility in Phnom Penh.
In Siem Reap, GAEA and Naga Earth are collaborating to recycle glass from businesses. The project has started as of July 2019 and GAEA is now collecting glass from local businesses. Found out more and register your interest here.
Without forgetting education …
Having the infrastructure to recycle waste is paramount. But educating and motivating people to sort out waste is as important in the fight for a cleaner country. This is where startups can come into play. For instance, last year a team of young Khmer received 10,000 $ from the Toyota Challenge for their SmartBin app. The app, which will be launched firstly in Phnom Penh, rewards people who recycle waste in the correct bin with points that can be redeemed in partner stores.
In this way, there is no doubt that new technologies will play a key role in this fight. Robert Hor, programme manager for digitalisation of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, couldn’t agree more, as he bets on the skilled young Khmer and their ICT skills to develop digital ways of recycling waste.
What can you do about it?
Despite the initiatives seen above, there is still a long way to go to ensure that most recyclable waste do get recycled in Cambodia. But you can take actions to increase the waste that YOU recycle!
Reduce
You probably saw it coming, but reducing your waste is the golden rule before recycling. Items such as plastic bags need a lot of resources (e.g. petroleum) to be produced, but also to be recycled and transformed into new objects. Try to analyse the waste that you generate in a week and see areas where you can improve. You can for instance buy in bulk (at Babel Eco-shop in Siem Reap or Dai Khmer in Phnom Penh) to reduce cardboard and plastic waste. Or get your old coffee machine repaired instead of buying one. Many solutions exist to reduce your consumption of new materials !
Sort your waste
Sort out your waste to make it easier for waste pickers. This is healthier for them as they might do it on the dumpsites but also save them valuable time. You can just set up different bins outside for your plastic bottles, metal cans, papers and normal waste to be picked up.
Compost
Create a compost to get rid of your food waste is so easy if you have a garden or even just a balcony with some plants. If you don’t have one, you can find a place willing to take it for you. For instance, we give ours to Angkor High School for their garden (and keep the food scrap in the freezer in the meantime). If you own a hotel or restaurant, you can give your food waste to pig farms or to initiatives such as Camborea in Siem Reap who uses it for composting.
Be creative
Use your waste to create useful and amazing items. Old newspapers can be transformed into beautiful bins and plastic bottles can be turned into funny flower pots. Take example on Coconut School! This school is entirely built out of waste by using glass bottles, plastic bottles, etc. Moreover, the staff is actively educating the students about waste management and recycling. Check out the video and follow their facebook page to get idea on what you can do as well.
Find local initiatives that can take your waste
As the old saying mentions, “a man’s trash is another’s man treasure”. There are many initiatives in the country that can take your waste. For instance, Rehash Trash in Siem Reap takes old plastic bags from restaurants and individuals to transform them into beautiful products! The Coconut school is also looking for materials (e.g. glass bottles) to built up more classrooms. You can find the list of initiatives who take your waste here.
In brief, recycling in Cambodia (and worldwide) is changing tremendously with the bans of plastic waste import from neighbouring countries. While there are still many issues with recycling in Cambodia, there is some hope that it is getting better. But don’t forget : you can do your bit! Reduce your material consumption as much as possible, and this before it even needs to be recycled!
Are you doing as much as possible to reduce and recycle your waste? Share with us your tips or the recycling initiatives that you know about!
Credit cover picture: Agence Francaise de Presse
Comments
Jason
July 27, 2020 at 5:18 pmI have glass from a remodelling job to recycle. There are large panes of thick glass. Do you recycle glass?
Zero-waste in Siem Reap - Clean Green Cambodia
December 27, 2019 at 12:11 pm[…] Hope you liked our tips, and of course they are many others! So stay tuned for more advices on how to go zero-waste in Cambodia 🙂 In the meantime you can read our other articles such as recycling in Cambodia. […]
Sub
May 13, 2020 at 10:01 amMe, I’m 10 years old and I live in Phnom Penh and you know they throw trash everywhere and it just awful they even throw trashes to Mekong River that’s why my mom doesn’t really like the way that people live in Phnom Penh so they even use TRASH to make food and then the customers will get cancer or other diseases that cause the customers
Cleangreencambodia
June 19, 2020 at 10:09 amHi Sub! You really seem like an amazing Eco-Warrior! It’s really important that your mum and you try to talk about it to your family, your friends, and help them to find solutions to avoid single-use plastic, keep going! Thanks for your commitment.
Alan
June 11, 2020 at 2:41 pmI have ton of waste paper, who can help me to dispose it.
Cleangreencambodia
June 19, 2020 at 10:03 amHi Alan! Where do you live in Cambodia?
If you live in Phnom Penh, you can drop off the shredded paper at Dai Khmer Refill Station and Eco-shop.Michael Stewart
August 16, 2020 at 8:38 pmYou can compost paper. I have done that before. I also use paper as kindling when I want to use my charcoal grill. As I get a lot of receipts from the supermarket it is a great way to reduce one’s trash imprint. Plus if you get enough ash you can make potash which is excellent for plants. At the moment I am trying to find materials so I can create molds for plastic. I want to melt down my soda bottles and plastic bags and turn them into plates and other useful things. I have been searching for acetone so I can try to shape the styrofoam I get into something useful. I use cooking oil to make soap or as a fuel if i have glass bottles.
Nicola Wohlschlegel
June 11, 2020 at 6:00 pmThank you for another informative site. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such great information like yours. Thanks!
Cleangreencambodia
June 19, 2020 at 10:17 amHi Nicola,
Thanks for the kind words. We are doing our best trying to update all recycling initiatives around Cambodia, if you know some other please feel free to share them with us! We are currently working on a tab trying to list all of them across the Kingdom for many materials, so please follow us on Facebook to be updated as soon as it is ready.
Tam
July 3, 2020 at 4:35 pmAre you interested to buy steel,. We have lot of steel and iron . From the house we renovating have lot of metal partitions and gate, doors etc. If interested please contact.
Thanks
Allan
July 15, 2020 at 7:53 amNice website, Looking for a company regarding e-waste materials for disposal.
Cleangreencambodia
July 16, 2020 at 10:39 amHi Allan, thanks for your comment. Regarding e-waste, we are trying to update the existing solutions in Cambodia, I will get back to you by email.
herman jongkind
August 13, 2020 at 10:46 amI live in Phnom Penh 14 years and unfortunately I see little improvement from the people
in the street getting rid of their waste. The mentality is still just drop it. Look at the containers for the waste along the riverside, nobody cares to make the waste small.
So instead of a one day use of the container, it’s full in half a day and the rest is laying around the container. I think all those khaki uniform officials should fine everybody who drops his waste 10.000 riel, that helps to get the people concious! And in the schools
there must be much more attention to teach the kids how to keep a country clean.
Nobody picks up waste, they rather kick against it than pick it up, Thant’s a mentality
that “MUST” change, if you want a clean country.
Good luck.
Herman Jongkind
Cleangreencambodia
December 3, 2020 at 4:25 pmClean Green Cambodia also runs awareness workshops in schools, universities, or businesses. Contact us at info@cleangreencambodia.org if you are interested.
Global Engi-Tech Pvt. Ltd.
August 14, 2020 at 10:45 amFor any type of Waste Disposal Equipment need, Please contact us info@globalengitech.com > We can design the plants for disposal of almost all types of wastes.
Monir
August 28, 2020 at 6:10 pmI am from Bangladesh but I live long time live Cambodia Phnom Penh I have a lots of waste products I want real buyer to sell my waste products.I want to know Cambodia have waste factory who buy waste products.I am waiting for your reply.
Thank you
Pascal
October 26, 2020 at 12:27 pmHi Monir,
I am looking for aluminium scraps.
Contact me to discuss furtherThanks
BR
Mahendra k suvagiya Suvagiya
November 23, 2020 at 10:36 pmSend me your contact number and WhatsApp number
Cleangreencambodia
December 3, 2020 at 4:27 pmHi dear,
All our updated contact information is here: https://www.cleangreencambodia.org/contact-us/
Looking forward to hearing from you.
English 
Khmer 
Laurent Wolters
May 24, 2019 at 12:47 pmDear,
We canal help you to dispose of glass.
Do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
Laurent Wolters
youry phon
November 21, 2019 at 5:07 pmhello
my name is youry i working at japanesetrading company
currentlyi looking for supplies who can supply aulimun recycle scalp in cambodia
i looking forforward to hear from you soon
Cleangreencambodia
December 10, 2019 at 11:38 amHello Youry,
I am sorry I think there isn’t but I can’t answer to you for sure. I will advise you to ask this question on GoGreen Cambodia facebook group right here: https://web.facebook.com/groups/892120540904745/?ref=group_header
Hope you will find an answer and a recycling solution for this.
Banko
January 10, 2020 at 11:38 amHi, we are looking for buyer of Aluminum scrap and glass culets. If you are interested please provide me with your contact details.
Pascal
October 26, 2020 at 12:24 pmHi Banko,
I might be interested please contact me so that we can discuss further.
Thanks
BR
Tam
July 3, 2020 at 4:34 pmAre you interested to buy steel,. We have lot of steel and iron . From the house we renovating have lot of metal partitions and gate, doors etc. If interested please contact.
Thanks