The “National Roads With No Plastic Wastes” campaign, which aims to eliminate litter along national roads, is proving promising as more and more citizens get involved in the clean-up efforts.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, this campaign, led by more than 20,000 environmental activists, monks, students, local authorities and citizens, ‘aims to preserve the health of Cambodia's 17 million inhabitants’.
“The campaign addresses the plastic waste scattered on and along the roads, which poses a significant risk to public health,” says the ministry, adding that it “contributes to maintaining the cleanliness and aesthetic appeal of every city and province along Cambodia's national roads”.
H.E. Dr Eang Sophalleth, Minister of the Environment, expressed his optimism and confidence that Cambodia would achieve a clean, plastic-free environment within the next five years.
In an interview with the local press at the Ministry, H.E. the Minister stressed that Cambodia's success in creating a cleaner environment - land, water and air - will be the result of the collective efforts of its citizens. He stressed the importance of encouraging a ‘clean from the heart’ movement, where Cambodians voluntarily take part in clean-up activities without relying on penalties for littering.
“This community spirit not only ensures a plastic-free Cambodia, but also brings additional benefits to public health, tourism and the economy, as well as to the nation's reputation on the international stage,” he said.
H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth also praised the cleanliness habits of Cambodian citizens, describing them as a “blessing that has rehabilitated Cambodia's image in terms of cleanliness”, i.e. the heart, the environment and a responsible lifestyle with regard to waste. According to the Minister, the positive example set by Cambodian schoolchildren, who refrain from littering in schools, bears witness to this growing culture of environmental responsibility.
In 2024, the average Phnom Penh resident would use five plastic bags a day, which would represent 57 tonnes of daily plastic waste. In total, the number of plastic bags used in Cambodia is around 56 million per day, equivalent to 279 tonnes. With rapid economic growth and urbanisation in recent years, plastic consumption has soared, leading to a dramatic increase in plastic waste. Plastic use has become an integral part of daily life in Cambodia, particularly in the city of Phnom Penh, where around 10 million plastic bags are used every day and few of them are recycled or managed effectively.
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