The rapid population growth and economic development in Cambodia have led to a surge in solid waste, including plastic waste, with plastic use, consumption, and pollution widespread across industries and sectors. The volume of municipal solid waste disposal in the country increased from 397,311 MT/year in 2006 to 2,201,721 MT/year in 2021, a growth of over 450 percent, not accompanied by the development of adequate infrastructure. Waste collection services cover only 40% of households in urban areas outside of the capital, and 18% in rural areas, leading to extensive illegal dumping. Most managed landfills are open, resulting in uncontrolled production of greenhouse gases (GHG) and numerous environmental and health threats. In 2020, the waste sector generated 574.4k metric tonnes of CO2 in Cambodia. Plastic accounts for 20% of municipal solid waste, with significant issues in recycling and waste management practices, particularly affecting major cities and touristic hubs like Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. 

 The action focuses on food vendors around selected garment factories, providing environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives to current food packaging business models. The project will develop and pilot sustainable and competitive models for food packaging and waste management (including plastic recycling) in these areas, which often lack adequate waste management infrastructure. Additionally, the action will work on behavioral change through multi-channel awareness campaigns, improve government policies and regulations through policy dialogue, and enhance private sector access to „green“ loans. This will support the implementation of the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028 and contribute to Cambodia’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Objectives 

• Promote environmentally and economically sustainable food packaging alternatives. 
• Develop sustainable waste management models in target areas. 
• Improve government policies and regulations for waste management. 
• Raise awareness and promote behavioral change in the population. 

Main Activities 

• Provide environmentally and economically sustainable food packaging options to vendors. 
• Develop and pilot sustainable food packaging and waste management models. 
• Conduct multi-channel awareness-raising campaigns. 
• Engage in policy dialogue to improve sector regulations. 
• Support business cases for accessing international „green“ loans. 

Participants 

• Approximately 200 food vendors around selected garment factories. 
• Waste management actors in targeted areas. 
• Local government units, NGOs, and private sector entities. 
• Indirect beneficiaries include factory workers and wider community members