PHNOM PENH – Tonnes of discarded bottles are being given new lives by an entrepreneur by upcycling them into brooms while providing income for local people. 

Former bread seller Has Kea has run a broom-making warehouse in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district for more than a year. 

Kea says he wants to protect the environment from trash and to provide jobs for women in the community so that they have an income.

Kea buys used bottles from garbage businesses and villagers in nearby area.

“Before, I was selling bread and brooms on a motorbike. The reason for turning to making brooms from bottles was because I want to help protect the environment and give the young and old women in the village jobs to earn money without having to work far from home,” he said.

 Former bread seller Has Kea has run a broom-making warehouse in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district for more than a year. Photo_ Sem Brakdav

He said he watched videos on YouTube about broom-making and decided to take the path. He spent about 20 million riels to set up the business. 

The process involves plastic bottles being cleaned and dried in the first phase. Then they are shredded and put in hot water to straighten them before being tied together with a bamboo stick. 

These plastic brooms can be used for at least three years and cost 15,000 to 30,000 riel depending on sizes. 

Most of the work involves human labor with only a machine doing the shredding or cutting the bottles. Kea said he won’t use machines to replace the 20 women working in the warehouse. 

“The reason for not using a machine is because I want to maintain the quality and want to provide jobs for the women in the village,” he said.

They cost 15,000 to 30,000 riel depending on sizes. Photo_ Sem Brakdav

Broom maker Nhek Boeun, from Prey Veng, said this job had changed his family life. 

“Before, I worked far away from home and it was very difficult because I was old and not as strong as a teenager,” he said. 

The work suits him because he is too old to do construction work. Broom making is light work which can earn the same as his previous work. 

Nhek Boeun has been working at Has Kea’s enterprise for more than five months and can earn 40,000 riel per day. This is not enough to cover all the family expenses but it has partly reduced the burden.

As a housewife who was jobless for ten years, You Sorn is also working for Has Kea. She can get 20,000 riel a day. 

“I’m really happy,” she said almost in tears. “20,000 riel for others is not much, but for me it is important because it gives me three meals.” 

Has Kea is happy that his business can help society. He called on the public to support the work of Cambodian or local products.