Cleanup Teams Wage War on River Waste

-
By:
- Sem Brakdav
-
January 21, 2025, 10:15 AM
PHNOM PENH – The River Ocean Cleanup organization collects more than 600 tonnes of garbage a year from the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers.
The Organization has been collecting plastic waste from rivers in Phnom Penh since 2022. Its mission is to ensure that people living along the riverside have a clean environment and good health. By doing so, they strive to prevent environmental issues such as water and land pollution.
Mission head Hong Kibora, 24, said that during this cold season, the team uses boats to collect garbage for eight hours daily. They work until 5 pm with some residents volunteering to help.
Every day the team collects between one and five tonnes of plastic, water bottles, rubber, foam and other debris that floats in the river. It is sent to Chip Mong's waste recycling center, where it is sorted and processed.
“I want to contribute to maintaining the cleanliness of the surrounding environment, creating a healthy and comfortable space for the people living along the river,” Kibora said
.“Cleaning this river is important for people, animals, and Cambodia as a whole, and it requires the participation of all of us.”
Mission head Hong Kibora, 24, said that during this cold season, the team uses boats to collect garbage for eight hours daily. Photo by Soy Ratanakvisal.
He said that solving environmental issues along the rivers requires everyone's participation and the use of suitable methods. People are also involved in supporting the mission goal of “No Garbage in the River.”
“Now, Phnom Penh has the most garbage because people live near water and have no place to throw garbage away,” he said.
“They throw it in the water. It is difficult to educate them to understand how to dispose of garbage, as it requires a lot of time.”
The most challenging garbage to collect is cloth because it is difficult to take from the water and requires a long time to recycle. The team needs to clean, dry and recycle it according to the standard.
Kibora said team members wear protective gloves and face masks and use tools for picking up garbage to ensure their well-being.
He believes his team’s work is essential for the environment and the economy. He has seen that people are now more aware of the waste problem and are less likely to throw garbage everywhere as before.
Kibora said that the Ocean River Cleanup Organization collects garbage also along the rivers of Kandal and Siem Reap provinces.
Kibora called for residents living along the rivers and other citizens to participate in disposing of garbage properly, as water from rivers and oceans is a vital resource for humans, animals, aquatic life, and nature. Additionally, this practice helps preserve the area's beauty, protects public health and safeguards the environment.
Specifically, he urged all residents along the river to properly package, store, and dispose of garbage and solid waste. They can also help spread this knowledge to other people. Moreover, this effort makes Phnom Penh clean, environmentally friendly and attractive.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Chhuon Kongieng for Cambodianess.
