In a determined effort to aid environmental protection, the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration is encouraging residents to gather plastic waste strewn outside of rubbish bins and landfills. These plastics will be sold to Israeli private firm TONTOTON and transformed into panels and furniture.
This announcement came on August 13 after deputy provincial governor Long Dimanche inspected TONTOTON’s operations, which primarily focuses on collecting plastic waste from the sea.
The next day, Dimanche noted that TONTOTON possesses the technology to grind plastic refuse discarded in public and open spaces, excluding those from landfills.
The plastics include items such as plastic bags, water bottles and even plastic products scattered in the sea from neighbouring countries.
“Of course, the provincial administration has been very supportive and encouraging, and we also strive to urge people to collect those discarded plastic items. This is part of our effort to reduce plastic outside of the bins and landfill,” he said.
Dimanche encouraged people to collect all those plastic waste items to sell to the company for processing.
“This is our key focus, as it promotes greater awareness and participation from the community to reduce the amount of plastic littered in public areas, on the beach, in the streets and at home,” he added.
Chum Hout, president of the Lover Environment and Society Association, also expressed support for the initiative, highlighting how it could improve both the environment and the lives of people in Preah Sihanouk. He recalled how he had seen plastic affecting the environment, particularly in the slums.
“So when a company purchases all plastics, people in the area will collect and sell them to the company, and it will become a good habit.
“It will also make those places free of plastic and garbage. I think it is good to have a company that purchases the plastic,” he said.
According to the provincial administration, TONTOTON collects approximately 200 tonnes of plastic waste every month. Even worthless plastic waste finds value through the firm’s grinding technology, turned into panels that are used to create furniture.
Neither Ministry of Environment spokesperson Neth Pheaktra nor a TONTOTON representative could be reached for comment on August 14.
The TONTOTON programme is a “sustainable solution” aimed at reducing ocean-bound plastic by neutralising companies’ plastic footprints. By converting a tonne of plastic litter into a tonne of neutralised plastic, the enterprise exemplifies its name and showcases an innovative way to tackle environmental issues.
