Cambodia has launched a $30 million, five-year initiative to strengthen electronic waste management, reduce pollution and accelerate the country's transition from a linear consumption model toward a circular economy.
The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Environment in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financing combining government and private-sector contributions with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The programme comes as Cambodia's use of electronic devices continues to expand, increasing the need for safer collection, recycling and disposal systems for end-of-life electronics.
Key Facts
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Total initiative | $30 million |
| Duration | 5 years |
| Government and private-sector co-financing | $26 million |
| GEF grant | $4 million |
| People targeted for direct protection | More than 200,000 |
| Targeted greenhouse gas reduction | 27,000 tonnes |
| Pollutants prevented from entering the environment | More than 20,000 tonnes |
| Electronic devices in use in Cambodia in 2024 | Estimated 24 million |
| Main focus | E-waste management and circular economy |
$30 Million Programme Targets Cambodia’s Growing E-Waste Challenge
The Ministry of Environment's new initiative is designed to improve how Cambodia manages electronic waste throughout the electronics value chain.
The five-year project has a total value of $30 million, comprising $26 million in co-financing from the Cambodian government and private partners and a $4 million grant from the Global Environment Facility.
The programme was developed with UNDP and aims to reduce pollution while improving the use and recovery of resources contained in electronic products.
Its broader objective is to support Cambodia's transition from a conventional “take-make-dispose” model toward a circular economy in which materials are kept in use for longer and waste is reduced.
More Than 200,000 People Targeted for Protection
One of the initiative's key objectives is to improve safety for people who may be exposed to hazardous materials through e-waste handling and recycling.
The project is expected to directly safeguard more than 200,000 people by establishing safer working environments and reducing exposure to hazardous waste.
Electronic waste can contain substances that require careful handling, making appropriate collection, treatment and recycling systems important for protecting workers and surrounding communities.
The initiative also targets the containment of toxic materials, including mercury and persistent organic pollutants.
Project Targets 27,000 Tonnes of Greenhouse Gas Reductions
The programme has set several environmental targets.
It aims to reduce approximately 27,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, while preventing more than 20,000 tonnes of pollutants from entering the environment.
The project also seeks to contain hazardous substances associated with electronic waste rather than allowing them to enter local ecosystems through inappropriate disposal or unsafe recycling practices.
Environmental Targets
| Target | Projected impact |
|---|---|
| People directly safeguarded | >200,000 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions reduced | 27,000 tonnes |
| Pollutants prevented from entering environment | >20,000 tonnes |
| Hazardous substances targeted | Mercury and persistent organic pollutants |
Cambodia Had an Estimated 24 Million Electronic Devices in 2024
The scale of the challenge is linked to Cambodia's rapidly increasing use of electronic products.
Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, said an estimated 24 million electronic devices were in use across the country in 2024.
As the number of devices grows, more products will eventually reach the end of their useful lives, creating additional demand for systems capable of collecting, processing and safely recycling discarded electronics.
Gaveglia stressed the importance of ensuring that end-of-life waste systems develop alongside electronics consumption.
He also highlighted the need for stronger capabilities and safeguards to protect workers and communities from toxic substances and unsafe recycling practices.
Circular Economy Becomes a Central Objective
Environment Secretary of State Chuop Paris said the government's objective is to move Cambodia away from a linear “take-make-dispose” model toward a circular economy.
The circular economy approach seeks to keep resources in productive use for longer, reduce waste generation and improve resource recovery.
For electronic products, this can involve better collection systems, safer recycling practices and mechanisms to recover useful materials rather than simply disposing of unwanted devices.
The approach also links environmental protection with resource efficiency and economic sustainability.
Stronger Policies and Standards Needed
Claude Gascon, interim CEO and chairperson of the GEF, warned that the environmental footprint of electronics will become increasingly difficult to manage without robust systems.
He said addressing e-waste requires changes in market practices as well as clearer policies and standards supporting safer and more sustainable operations.
The initiative therefore goes beyond waste collection alone. It is intended to strengthen the underlying systems needed to manage e-waste as Cambodia's electronics market expands.
Why E-Waste Management Matters to Cambodia?
The growth of electronics consumption can generate economic and social benefits through greater access to technology, communications and digital services.
However, discarded electronics create a different challenge once devices reach the end of their useful lives.
Without appropriate collection and treatment systems, hazardous materials can expose workers and communities to health and environmental risks, while valuable materials that could potentially be recovered are lost.
A stronger e-waste management system can therefore address several objectives simultaneously:
- Reduce environmental pollution
- Protect workers and communities
- Improve resource recovery
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Contain hazardous substances
- Support circular-economy development
- Strengthen standards for electronics recycling
Angkor Times Analysis
Cambodia's new $30 million e-waste initiative arrives at a time when electronic-device use is expanding rapidly.
The estimated 24 million devices in use in 2024 provides an indication of the scale of the future waste-management challenge. The issue is not simply the volume of discarded devices but also the materials they contain and the conditions under which they are collected and recycled.
The programme's combination of financing, policy development and safety measures is significant because effective e-waste management requires more than establishing disposal sites. Collection, sorting, recycling, worker protection, standards and market incentives all need to operate as part of a functioning system.
The project's environmental targets also provide measurable benchmarks. The planned reduction of 27,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and prevention of more than 20,000 tonnes of pollutants give policymakers and development partners indicators against which implementation can eventually be assessed.
The longer-term economic opportunity is the development of a more formal circular economy around electronic products. Recovering usable materials can reduce waste while potentially creating new business activity in collection, repair, refurbishment and recycling.
However, the source does not specify individual projects, implementation locations, detailed regulatory changes or the timeline for achieving each target. Those details will be important in determining how the $30 million programme translates into practical improvements across Cambodia's e-waste system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Cambodia investing in the new e-waste initiative?
The five-year initiative has a total value of $30 million.
Where does the funding come from?
The programme includes $26 million in co-financing from the Cambodian government and private partners, alongside a $4 million GEF grant.
How long will the project run?
The initiative is planned for five years.
How many people could benefit from improved e-waste management?
The project is expected to directly safeguard more than 200,000 people through safer working environments and reduced exposure to hazardous waste.
How many electronic devices are estimated to be in use in Cambodia?
UNDP estimates that approximately 24 million electronic devices were in use in Cambodia in 2024.
What are the project's environmental targets?
The initiative targets a reduction of 27,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and prevention of more than 20,000 tonnes of pollutants from entering the environment.
What hazardous materials does the project target?
The initiative specifically mentions toxic materials including mercury and persistent organic pollutants.
What is Cambodia's circular-economy objective?
The government aims to move away from a linear “take-make-dispose” model toward a circular economy that values resources, reduces waste and protects people and the environment.
Conclusion
Cambodia's new $30 million e-waste initiative represents a significant effort to build systems capable of managing the environmental consequences of rising electronics consumption.
Supported by government and private-sector financing, a GEF grant and UNDP cooperation, the five-year programme combines pollution reduction, worker protection, resource efficiency and circular-economy objectives.
Its success will ultimately depend on how effectively Cambodia develops practical collection, recycling, safety, market and regulatory systems.
With electronic-device use continuing to grow, establishing those systems now could help the country manage future e-waste volumes while creating a stronger foundation for resource-efficient and more sustainable economic growth.
Sources
- Khmer Times, “Cambodia launches $30m initiative to reduce e-waste in 5 years,” September 2026.
- Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, information cited in the source article.
- United Nations Development Programme Cambodia, information cited in the source article.
- Global Environment Facility, information cited in the source article.