National Technical Workshop on Enhancing the Capacity of the Waste Recycling Sector Towards a Zero Waste Society in Cambodia

The National Technical Workshop on Enhancing the Capacity of the Waste Recycling Sector Towards a Zero Waste Society in Cambodia was held on March 25–26, 2025, at the Cambodiana Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The workshop convened international development stakeholders  actively involved in waste management from both the public and private sectors, as well as from Academia. 
It was co-organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (IGES-CCET), and the Cambodian Environmental Education and Recycling Organization (COMPOSTED), with support from the Ministries of Environment of Japan and Cambodia.

Background

In 2024, Cambodia generated nearly 2.85 million tonnes of municipal waste, a 6.3% increase from the previous year. Despite contributions from both formal and informal sectors, recycling efficiency remains low due to limited source segregation and infrastructure. Informal workers play a key role in waste collection and recovery but often face unsafe conditions and lack social protection.

Intent

To address these challenges, this workshop was held to validate baseline studies from the “Bridging the Gap” project, bringing together policymakers and key stakeholders. The workshop reviewed the current recycling landscape and discussed ways to improve access to policies, resources, and technologies. It also highlighted the importance of gender and youth participation in advancing inclusive, sustainable waste management.

Summary

The two-day workshop (25–26 March 2025) brought together a wide range of stakeholders to advance sustainable waste management in Cambodia. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Shunichi Honda (UNEP-IETC), representatives from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, Dr. Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage (IGES-CCET), and Mr. Nget Bol (Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment), setting the floor for collaborative dialogue.
Day one focused on project implementation progress, feasibility studies on plastic recycling, and SME-led business models. Panel discussions explored financing, policy support, and technology for scaling up. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was introduced as a tool for evidence-based decision-making, followed by reflections and next steps led by Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment. On day two, discussions examined Cambodia’s waste sector in depth, with insights from Mr. Phalla Sam (COMPOSTED) and a case study from Lim Vanny Plastic Recycling Company. 

Key Takeaways

The two-day workshop offered valuable insights, actionable strategies, and a roadmap for advancing Cambodia's waste management and recycling sector toward a zero-waste society. It emphasized fostering collaboration and establishing a foundation for innovative, inclusive, and sustainable waste management solutions. Key takeaways include:

• Strengthening the Formal and Informal Sectors: Recognizing the integral roles of both sectors, stakeholders emphasized the need for targeted policies, financial support, and capacity-building initiatives to bolster formal recycling operations while integrating the informal sector into the waste management framework.
• Promoting Innovation and Technology: Participants identified opportunities to scale up recycling efforts through innovation, including the adoption of advanced technologies and techniques to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
• Leveraging Financing Mechanisms: The workshop underscored the need to engage financial institutions, investors, and development partners in mobilizing impact investments and sustainable financing for recycling initiatives.
• Evidence-Based Decision-Making: The introduction of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provided participants with a systematic approach to evaluate the environmental impacts of recycling technologies, ensuring informed policy and operational decisions.
• Integrating the Informal Sector: The workshop highlighted the vital contributions of the informal waste sector and emphasized the need for its integration into formal waste management systems. Key actions include improving working conditions, ensuring social protection, providing capacity-building support, and fostering gender inclusion. Multi-stakeholder collaboration and access to financial resources were also deemed essential for empowering informal waste workers and enhancing their contributions to sustainable waste management.
• Actionable Next Steps: Concrete next steps include conducting further research, initiating pilot projects, strengthening public-private partnerships, and developing policies to enhance social protection for informal waste workers.