Cambodia Launches Plastic Waste Project as Pollution Costs Hit $2.5 Million a Year

Cambodia loses an estimated $2.5 million each year because of plastic pollution, the Ministry of Environment said.

On September 25, the ministry launched a new initiative designed to advance circular-economy solutions in the food and beverage industry, one of the main sources of single-use plastic waste.

The project, called “Plastic Reboot Cambodia,” is backed by the Global Environment Facility and will be carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, the UN Development Programme and the UN Environment Programme. It will focus on Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk provinces.

Rising waste in major cities

According to the ministry, Phnom Penh’s annual solid waste has risen sharply over the past 15 years, climbing from more than 340,000 tonnes in 2007 to nearly 1.3 million tonnes in 2022. Plastic makes up about one-fifth of that total.

Studies cited by the ministry show that single-use plastic items from food and drink businesses, including bags, cups, containers and bottles, are a major contributor to waste at disposal sites. The ministry warned that around 90% of this waste eventually escapes into waterways, rivers and coastal areas.

The ministry said plastic pollution harms landscapes and ecosystems while creating about $2.5 million in annual economic losses linked to marine pollution.

It also blocks drainage systems, raising flood risks in urban centres such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk, and poses serious public health concerns.

Targets for 2028

The project aims to cut plastic waste from the food and beverage sector by more than 19,000 tonnes by 2028. It is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 74,000 tonnes.

More than 520,000 people are expected to benefit directly, especially women and waste pickers in the three target provinces, the ministry said.

Speaking at the launch, Ministry of Environment secretary of state Chuop Paris said the initiative would support stronger policies, attract financing, encourage private-sector involvement and help change public behaviour around single-use plastics.

He said the project fits with Cambodia’s Environmental Circular Strategy and its national circular-economy strategy and action plan.

Paris urged government bodies, businesses, development partners and civil society groups to cooperate in reducing plastic consumption, especially disposable items, while promoting reuse and improving waste management.