Trash or Treasure, Recycling in Phnom Penh

Over the past several months, the Green Team has highlighted everything from the impacts of disposable plastic water bottles to the importance of saving water and the proper disposal of household hazardous waste.  A common theme across many of our articles has been the importance of recycling.  This has of course led to a common question from you, our astute readers:  Ok, recycling is important, but how does one recycle in Phnom Penh? 

The good news is that there are lots of options out there in the city of Phnom Penh, starting with sorting your trash at home.  Chances are your neighbors probably know when the "etjai", or waste pickers, pass by your street.  Etjai travel around Phnom Penh, collecting recyclables from the trash or buying them directly from residents, and then sell their finds to recycling stations for a small profit.  If you separate your recyclables for the etjai ahead of time, you save them some work and time digging in your garbage!  They typically take aluminum cans, but check with your neighbors about the specific collectors that come by your house. 

Here are some more specific recycling tips in use by people in Phnom Penh:

• Several NGOs will take paper products to be recycled or made into materials that can be sold, which in addition to helping the environment benefits communities that need livelihoods.  Friends (www.friends-international.org, 023-986-601) and the Community Sanitation and Recycling Organization take paper and other products such as plastic bags.
• The boutique Smateria (www.smateria.com, 023-211-701) takes plastic bags, paper, cardboard boxes, milk and juice boxes, and plastic straws.
• Prime Tech (#10A, Street 324, Tuol Kork, 012-975-800 or 011-975-800) will take printer toner cartridges and sells recycled cartridges.
• The Anana computer store in Phnom Penh center has a recycling bin for batteries.
• The Children's Surgical Center (http://www.csc.org) will take reading (and other) eyeglasses.
• Organizations such as LICADHO (http://licadho-cambodia.org/, 023-360-965) and Friends will take used clothing, electronics, and other items for donation to needy families or to sell. 

Many organizations in Phnom Penh offer the convenience of home pick-up.  And these aren't the only options in town!  Next time you're wandering through a shop in town or a stall at the market that carries goods made from recyclable materials, such as Bloom at Russian Market, ask them where they get their materials.  In addition to buying from them and supporting their causes, it's possible they may be looking for donations of raw materials from someone like you!

In Phnom Penh or around the world there are many ways to help reduce the amount of trash your household produces.  Any easy way to do that is by separating out your recyclables before trash day.  This is an easy step for all of us to reduce our footprint on the planet, and be more responsible with the natural resources already in use.  The Green Team will maintain a running list of recycling options in Phnom Penh.  If you run across a good option in your daily Phnom Penh adventures, please send it to us at PHPGreenTeam@state.gov and we'll add it to the list!