A waste bank pilot project implemented on Koh Trong, an island located in Koh Trong commune of Kratie province’s Kratie town, is helping to attract tourists and improve the livelihoods and health of local communities.

Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth, along with the ministry’s development partners (DPs), visited the project on July 30.

The solid waste management system, under the 3RproMar project, focuses on mitigation, reduction and recycling to protect the marine environment and corals.

It emphasises these three core compliance activities in accordance with the ministry's guidelines on zero waste for communities. The initiative is supported by DPs, including the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Asia Foundation.

“The project makes Koh Trong more beautiful and attracts national and international tourists to visit and enjoy the island,” commune chief Sam Buoy told the minister and other partners during their visit.

He explained that refuse at the bank is sorted into three categories: recyclable, organic (for compost to be used as fertiliser on agricultural crops) and non-recyclable, which is properly packed and disposed of by rubbish collectors and transported to a landfill off the island.

Buoy told The Post that the commune consists of two villages, Kbal Koh and Chong Koh, with 388 families and 1,761 members living in 372 households.

The pilot test began in August 2023 and continues to the present day. The communal administration manages the collection of money from households to pay for collection and transportation, with some financial and technical support from NGOs.

According to Buoy, each household is required to pay 5,000 riel ($1.22) for waste collection. Approximately 1,560,000 riel ($379.49) is collected monthly, but the cost for pickup and transportation exceeds two million riel ($486.52). NGOs cover the remaining expenses.

To meet these costs, the authorities are considering increasing the fee from 5,000 to 7,000 riel ($1.22-$1.70) per month starting in September to ensure the initiative’s sustainability.

“The project is really good for our community. It keeps our villages free of plastic waste, making them more beautiful, attracting more tourists and improving the health of our people,” he said.

He noted that previously, people would bury, burn or throw plastic into the river, where it would drift on the water, especially during the rainy season.

“But we no longer see plastic waste floating in the river. The habits of our villagers have changed from littering to proper waste disposal,” he added.

Koh Trong, covering an area of over 200 hectares, is one of the potential ecotourism areas in the province.

Sophalleth emphasised that cleaning up plastic is a joint mission for people across the country as part of the “Keep Cambodia Sa’at (beautiful), Khmer Can Do” campaign.

“Participation in cleaning up plastic waste by every citizen will bring cleanliness to Cambodia and attract tourists,” he said.