CINTRI workers collect rubbish in the capital in March. Heng Chivoan
The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has reminded residents and business owners who have failed to pay for their rubbish and solid waste collection service fees that they must settle the bills by June 15, or risk additional penalties including a record of unpaid debt and the loss of operating licences for businesses.
The City Hall’s notice dated June 1 is directed at all citizens, business owners, service providers and private institutions who have failed to pay for the services for January to April of this year.
“In cases where an individual or entity still refuses to pay ... the City Hall will take action such as disclosure of all names and debt records to the public through various platforms, temporary closure of their businesses and other measures deemed necessary,” it said.
Waste collection fees can be paid using a customer ID found on the Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) invoice via electronic payment system on the mobile phone app or through banks and micro-finance institutions including ACLEDA, Hattha, Canadia Plc, Vattanac, Cambodia Post, ABA, WING, AMK, FTB, Woori, Prince, Phillip, BIC, CHIP MONG, SATHAPANA, PRASAC, Amret, eMONEY, True Money, Ly Hour Verluy and Pi Pay.
The Post was unable to reach the Phnom Penh Solid Waste Management Authority (PPSWMA) for comment on June 6.
But in a social media post, it said that even in cases where houses are left vacant, their owners are still obliged to pay the waste collection fees.
Khieu Vuthy – the PPSWMA’s head of waste management for Chamkarmon, Boeung Keng Kang, Meanchey and Chbar Ampov districts – said the waste collection process requires participation from all relevant parties such as citizens, authorities and businesses, all of whom have a joint responsibility to make Phnom Penh a better place.
“Therefore, citizens also have to pay their waste collection service fees, because the City Hall has to spend money on workers and other materials related to its collection and disposal,” he said.
Vuthy also suggested that Phnom Penh residents pay the waste collection service fees regularly and store rubbish properly in accordance with the waste disposal programme, as directed by the City Hall.
The new system of rubbish and solid waste management service fees in Phnom Penh was implemented on November 1, 2021 and the fees are different according to each type of property.
Type 1 includes ground-floor flats which are non-business locations or operating as restaurants. They have a waste collection service fee of 10,000 riel ($2.50). Ground-floor flats that are operating as any other kinds of businesses must pay 60,000 riel and upstairs flats have to pay 8,000 riel.
