Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment is urging the public to reduce plastic use, properly dispose of waste and help keep pagodas and tourist destinations clean as millions of people travel during the Pchum Ben Festival.
The Ministry of Environment has called on Cambodians to take greater responsibility for waste disposal and plastic reduction during the 15-day Kan Ben and Pchum Ben Festival, as large numbers of people visit pagodas, recreational areas and tourist destinations across the country.
The ministry said cooperation between authorities, local communities and the public is important to maintain cleanliness, protect public health and preserve Cambodia’s environment throughout the festival period.
Ministry Highlights Three Key Environmental Measures
Through its spokesperson, Khvay Atitya, the Ministry of Environment outlined three key measures for the Pchum Ben period:
- Properly dispose of rubbish and solid waste
- Reduce the use of plastic bags and single-use plastics
- Follow the 4Rs principle: refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle
The ministry particularly called on people visiting pagodas and recreational areas to keep their surroundings clean and place rubbish in designated bins.
The message is especially relevant during Pchum Ben, when large numbers of Cambodians travel to pagodas and other destinations, potentially increasing the volume of waste generated in public and religious spaces.
Sanitation Teams and Awareness Campaigns
Authorities and relevant stakeholders have organised sanitation teams and public awareness activities during the festival to encourage better waste-disposal practices.
The activities also encourage people to participate in environmental clean-up efforts and take greater responsibility for the condition of public spaces.
The ministry said improved waste-disposal behaviour would support its wider efforts to reduce plastic use through several national campaigns.
These include:
“Today, I Do Not Use Plastic Bags”
“Clean Cambodia, Khmer Can Do”
“Clean Roads, No Rubbish or Plastic Waste”
The campaigns are intended to encourage behavioural changes around plastic consumption and waste management.
Environment Ministry Links Cleanliness to Public Health
Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth recently identified cleanliness and public health as priority areas for the Royal Government during its seventh mandate.
According to the minister, waste management efforts focus on reducing plastic waste and ultimately eliminating plastic use among future generations while maintaining clean communities, lakes and natural-resource areas.
The ministry is also encouraging households and visitors to collect and separate waste properly.
In particular, recyclable and reusable materials should be separated from waste that needs to be discarded.
Why Waste Management Matters During Pchum Ben?
Pchum Ben is one of Cambodia’s major traditional festivals, bringing increased movement of people between cities, provinces, pagodas and tourist destinations.
The concentration of visitors can create additional pressure on waste collection and sanitation systems, particularly at popular religious and recreational locations.
The Ministry of Environment’s recommendations therefore focus on actions that individuals can take directly, including carrying less single-use plastic, using reusable alternatives where possible and placing waste in appropriate bins.
For visitors, maintaining cleanliness is not limited to avoiding litter. Separating recyclable and reusable materials can also support more effective waste management and reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal.
Angkor Times Analysis: A Cleaner Pchum Ben Starts With Visitor Behaviour
The ministry’s appeal highlights an important practical aspect of festival management: environmental cleanliness depends not only on sanitation services but also on everyday behaviour.
During periods of high visitor traffic, even well-organised waste collection systems can face greater pressure. Simple actions such as refusing unnecessary plastic bags, reducing disposable products, reusing items and separating recyclable materials can help reduce the volume of waste generated.
The 4Rs approach also places responsibility directly with visitors and communities. Rather than focusing only on what happens after rubbish is produced, it encourages people to reduce waste at the point of consumption.
For pagodas and tourist destinations, keeping public spaces clean can also contribute to a more pleasant visitor experience while supporting public health and environmental protection.
The broader challenge is maintaining these habits beyond the festival period. The ministry’s ongoing campaigns suggest that waste reduction is being treated as a longer-term behavioural and environmental issue rather than only a seasonal concern.
4Rs for a Cleaner Pchum Ben
| Principle | Practical action |
|---|---|
| Refuse | Avoid unnecessary plastic bags and disposable items |
| Reduce | Use fewer single-use plastics |
| Reuse | Choose reusable items where possible |
| Recycle | Separate recyclable materials from other waste |
What Visitors Can Do
People visiting pagodas, tourist destinations and recreational areas during Pchum Ben can support the ministry’s appeal by:
Putting rubbish in designated bins
Avoiding unnecessary plastic bags
Reducing single-use plastic consumption
Carrying reusable items where practical
Separating recyclable and reusable materials
Joining local clean-up activities
Leaving pagodas, natural areas and tourist sites as clean as they found them
These actions require little effort individually but can become significant when adopted by large numbers of visitors.
Cambodia’s Broader Environmental Policy
The Ministry of Environment said the Pchum Ben measures are aligned with the government’s broader environmental policies and the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028.
The strategy places the festival campaign within a wider policy direction focused on waste management, plastic reduction and environmental protection.
For Cambodia’s tourism and local communities, maintaining cleaner public spaces is also closely connected with protecting the country’s cultural and natural destinations.
As millions of people travel during Pchum Ben, the ministry’s message is straightforward: celebrating the festival and visiting Cambodia’s religious and tourist sites should go hand in hand with responsible waste management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ministry of Environment asking the public to do during Pchum Ben?
The ministry is asking people to dispose of rubbish properly, reduce plastic use and follow the 4Rs principles of refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle.
Why is waste management important during Pchum Ben?
Large numbers of people visit pagodas, recreational areas and tourist destinations during the festival, increasing the need for responsible waste disposal and sanitation.
What are the 4Rs?
The 4Rs are refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle, a set of practices promoted by the ministry to encourage better waste management.
Which plastic-reduction campaigns has the ministry highlighted?
The ministry referenced “Today, I Do Not Use Plastic Bags,” “Clean Cambodia, Khmer Can Do” and “Clean Roads, No Rubbish or Plastic Waste.”
What should visitors do with recyclable materials?
The ministry encourages people to collect and separate recyclable and reusable materials from waste that needs to be discarded.
Is the Pchum Ben environmental campaign part of a wider policy?
Yes. The ministry said the efforts are aligned with broader government environmental policies and the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028.