Koh Kong, Cambodia, 26 Oct 2022: ERIA and Cambodia's Ministry of Environment held a joint workshop on Zero Plastic Waste for Public and Private Sectors and Communities in Koh Kong, Cambodia. The event fell under ERIA’s support for Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022, specifically for the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC). The workshop was held in response to the massive increase of plastic waste in Cambodia due to population and economic growth.
H E Ngin Lina, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Policy and Strategy at Cambodia's Ministry of Environment, highlighted the Cambodian people’s dependency on plastics, where one person brings home at least 10 plastic bags after buying food ingredients at the morning market, and more plastic packaging after buying takeaway food.
‘The unmanaged plastics will clog the drainage and create floods during the rainy season,’ she said in her opening remarks.
Mr Fusanori Iwasaki, ERIA Director of Policy Research, said that given the urgency of addressing the plastic waste issue, he expected the workshop to be an occasion to share knowledge and best practices, motivate all stakeholders, and discuss ways to improve existing efforts.
The Challenges in Addressing Plastic Waste
Dr Keo Vanthoeun, Deputy Director of the Department of Green Economy at Cambodia's Ministry of Environment, told the workshop's first session that his country aims to implement the smart city programme, not only focusing on technology but also on the cleanliness of the city. To achieve this, however, Cambodia needs international support as it does not have sufficient experience, experts, and funding.
Mr Dek Vimeanraksmey, also from the Cambodian Ministry of Environment, said waste collection there only serves urban areas, while waste in the districts with their large populations remains uncollected. This is exacerbated by the fact that Cambodia still uses unmonitored open dumping sites instead of sanitary landfills. As the rate of waste grew by 50% in the last five years, the open dumping landfills quickly became full.
‘We will revise the Sub-Decree No 113 on Urban Solid Waste Management by adding local authority responsibilities. We will also draft a new sub-decree on plastic waste management with support from the UNDP [United Nations Development Programme],’ he said.
Mr Oeun Panchakneat, the Environment Ministry’s Director of Department of Reward and Incentive, said the country is working to insert the Eco-school programme into all levels of formal education to raise awareness about environmental issues. Schools need to apply to join, and the ministry will select eligible candidates to become partners, he said.
Working Together to Solve Plastic Waste
Mr Leang Sovichea, an independent consultant for marine plastics, said projects related to marine plastic reduction have been implemented in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, and more will be implemented in Koh Kong and many other cities.
‘Several hotels in Siem Reap have provided refillable glass bottles and shampoo/soap containers to reduce the plastic use. Unfortunately, a number of smaller enterprises, such as street food vendors, still provide everything in plastics,’ he said during the workshop’s second session discussing stakeholder participation in the circular economy.
Mr Hak Sarum, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment in Koh Kong Province, said waste is not one institution’s problem, but rather it is a global issue that requires collective efforts.
‘There should be communication between the people and the government,’ he said.
H E Ngin Lina closed the workshop, expressing hope it would be useful for stakeholders to work together to address the plastic waste issue.
Research Associate
Koh Kong, Cambodia, 26 Oct 2022: ERIA and Cambodia's Ministry of Environment held a joint workshop on Zero Plastic Waste for Public and Private Sectors and Communities in Koh Kong, Cambodia. The event fell under ERIA’s support for Cambodia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022, specifically for the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC). The workshop was held in response to the massive increase of plastic waste in Cambodia due to population and economic growth.
H E Ngin Lina, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Policy and Strategy at Cambodia's Ministry of Environment, highlighted the Cambodian people’s dependency on plastics, where one person brings home at least 10 plastic bags after buying food ingredients at the morning market, and more plastic packaging after buying takeaway food.
‘The unmanaged plastics will clog the drainage and create floods during the rainy season,’ she said in her opening remarks.
Mr Fusanori Iwasaki, ERIA Director of Policy Research, said that given the urgency of addressing the plastic waste issue, he expected the workshop to be an occasion to share knowledge and best practices, motivate all stakeholders, and discuss ways to improve existing efforts.
The Challenges in Addressing Plastic Waste
Dr Keo Vanthoeun, Deputy Director of the Department of Green Economy at Cambodia's Ministry of Environment, told the workshop's first session that his country aims to implement the smart city programme, not only focusing on technology but also on the cleanliness of the city. To achieve this, however, Cambodia needs international support as it does not have sufficient experience, experts, and funding.
Mr Dek Vimeanraksmey, also from the Cambodian Ministry of Environment, said waste collection there only serves urban areas, while waste in the districts with their large populations remains uncollected. This is exacerbated by the fact that Cambodia still uses unmonitored open dumping sites instead of sanitary landfills. As the rate of waste grew by 50% in the last five years, the open dumping landfills quickly became full.
‘We will revise the Sub-Decree No 113 on Urban Solid Waste Management by adding local authority responsibilities. We will also draft a new sub-decree on plastic waste management with support from the UNDP [United Nations Development Programme],’ he said.
Mr Oeun Panchakneat, the Environment Ministry’s Director of Department of Reward and Incentive, said the country is working to insert the Eco-school programme into all levels of formal education to raise awareness about environmental issues. Schools need to apply to join, and the ministry will select eligible candidates to become partners, he said.
Working Together to Solve Plastic Waste
Mr Leang Sovichea, an independent consultant for marine plastics, said projects related to marine plastic reduction have been implemented in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, and more will be implemented in Koh Kong and many other cities.
‘Several hotels in Siem Reap have provided refillable glass bottles and shampoo/soap containers to reduce the plastic use. Unfortunately, a number of smaller enterprises, such as street food vendors, still provide everything in plastics,’ he said during the workshop’s second session discussing stakeholder participation in the circular economy.
Mr Hak Sarum, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment in Koh Kong Province, said waste is not one institution’s problem, but rather it is a global issue that requires collective efforts.
‘There should be communication between the people and the government,’ he said.
H E Ngin Lina closed the workshop, expressing hope it would be useful for stakeholders to work together to address the plastic waste issue.
Research Associate
