An extensive newspaper article this weekend reported on Phnom Penh’s increasing problems dealing with rubbish. It’s a complex problem with many layers.
At the government level, the article pointed out: there is a lack of waste treatment facilities and a lack of trained technical staff and management policies. An official noted the national budget for waste management is limited; the collection service is poorly run; and there is a lack of regulation about landfills.
At the consumer level, the company responsible for waste collection noted that people put out rubbish after collection times; the rubbish is not properly packaged and bundled; bad roads, improper parking, and unlit streets hamper collections; and some people do not pay for the collection services.
Things are coming to a head now, though, because Phnom Penh’s landfill will be completely full within two years, but the city’s rapidly expanding population is generating 3,000 tons of rubbish a day.
