Cambodia, Germany enhance collaboration on sustainable Solid Waste Management initiatives in Cambodia

The “Green Grow Initiative for a Circular Economy for Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Cambodia” project has been launched through cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the German Federation.

Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth said that the signing of the project implementation agreement today is a complement to what the ministry has been implementing and is a joint step between GIZ Cambodia and the Ministry of Environment on strengthening the solid waste management system for better implementation by incorporating the principles of a chakra economy that allows them to jointly eliminate environmental pollution and manage waste according to the chakra model effectively.

The minister said that today, “We have not only established a formal partnership, but we have also strengthened our commitment to creating a sustainable working model for managing solid waste and reducing the amount of waste that needs to be collected and transported to landfills. These efforts will lead to a cleaner, more beautiful, and more comfortable city.”

Sophalleth added that the Ministry of Environment has also prioritised waste management by deploying standardised waste separation bins across the country. “By focusing on waste separation and recycling, we can significantly reduce pollution while increasing opportunities for additional income in schools and waste recycling businesses,” he said.

At the same time, the ministry will pay high attention to waste separation and landfills. Ensure that plastic waste, hazardous waste, and regular waste are separated and disposed of properly.

The signing ceremony of the joint project implementation agreement “Green Grow Initiative for a Circular Economy for Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Cambodia” was held by Sabo Ojano, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment, and Gunter Riethmacher, director of GIZ in Cambodia, on January 20, 2025, at the Cambodiana Hotel.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Eang Sophallet and Stefan Messerer, the German Ambassador to Cambodia, and attended by leaders and officials of the Ministry of Environment, representatives of relevant ministries, institutions, and sub-national administrations, representatives of the GIZ working group, development partners, as well as civil society organisations, the private sector, and many educational institutions.

Stefan Messerer praised Sophalleth’s leadership in launching the Ministry of Environment’s campaigns in the past to promote these activities into a nationwide movement that created opportunities for all stakeholders to participate in eliminating environmental pollution and utilising resources for a new economy.

He added that the German government supports the activities of the Ministry of Environment in the goal of sustainable development.

• Tags: solid waste management