Solid Waste Management in Cambodia

Abstract

Driven by economic development, population growth, change in life style, and consumption patterns, Cambodia is faced with equally rapid increase of solid waste, with MSW disposal amount attaining 1,709,379 tons/year in 2018. Various policy instruments and legislations have been developed over the years in response to this long-existing crisis, which effectively translated into tangible improvements on the ground. But municipalities continue to suffer from weak waste management system including collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal. Resource recovery almost entirely depends on informal sector while efforts for reduce and reuse are still weak, while presenting vast opportunity if effective policies are employed and implemented. The ongoing governance reform involving functional decentralization of waste management service is being implemented although at a slow pace.