The capital is currently examining two possible new dumpsites in Chroy Changvar and Chbar Ampov districts in the hopes of taking strain off of Phnom Penh’s current landfill, which receives some 2,000 tonnes of waste each day.

Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong said in a Facebook post yesterday that the locations would also keep the city’s trash from being hauled long distances, “which causes slowness and congestion in the traffic, or traffic accidents”.

City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche confirmed that the city was in talks with the Ministry of Environment regarding the new locations and maintained that, for now, contractor Cintri would remain the city’s trash transporter, despite past criticisms.

“Previously, there were some discussions on some contracts in order to avoid a monopoly and to let other companies to work with us, but the result is not known yet. However, in the contract, it is stated that Cintri is the stakeholder of the service.”

Cintri representative Nguon Sipheng welcomed the plan for new landfills, saying it would speed up waste collection and reduce costs.