The Ministry of Environment provided 19 garbage trucks to 12 provincial departments of environment on May 6 to assist local authorities with their waste collection and management.

The ministry said that the trucks will be delivered to 18 districts; with Mondul Seiha district of Koh Kong province receiving two.

Phay Bunchhoeun – secretary of state at the environment ministry – who presided over the ceremonial handover, said: “These garbage trucks are being provided to support and motivate local ownership of garbage and solid waste collection, and to expand waste collection and transportation services, as well as to ensure increased hygiene and beauty in their villages and communes.”

The total amount of waste generated in Cambodia per day is more than 10,000 tonnes, equivalent to nearly four million tonnes per year. 65 per cent of the waste is organic and 20 per cent is plastic bags, with solid waste making up the majority of the remainder, according to a recent report released by The ministry.