The Ministry of Environment has ordered the Xin Mei Fushi (Cambodia) Co., Ltd garment factory, located in Trapang Chrey village, Kakab II commune, in Phnom Penh’s Por Senchey district, to immediately cease the burning of fabric and plastic waste.
The order followed complaints from local residents who reported thick black smoke coming from the factory’s chimney. A team from the General Directorate of Environmental Protection inspected the site on June 30.
Led by Lao Kimchhy, deputy director of the Department of Environmental Compliance and Law Enforcement, with cooperation from the Phnom Penh Department of Environment and local authorities, the team determined that the factory was polluting the air through the burning of waste.
On Tuesday, July 1, the ministry announced that it had taken enforcement measures, instructing the factory to stop any burning immediately.
In addition to halting the burning, the factory is required to comply with environmental regulations and apply for all necessary permits from the Ministry of Environment. No fabric or plastic waste may be stored near the incinerator.
It has also been instructed to use a licensed waste management company to handle solid waste collection and must upgrade the chimney system on its furnace/incinerator to meet environmental standards.
Xin Mei Fushi (Cambodia) Co., Ltd began operating in early 2025 and employs around 250 workers.
According to the ministry, the factory was using fabric and plastic waste mixed with charcoal to fuel its incinerator, and was storing these materials near the burner without holding the necessary environmental permits.
The ministry has ordered the factory to implement all corrective measures immediately. If the factory fails to comply, further legal action will be taken in accordance with environmental law.
The ministry noted that the factory’s operations had released carbon monoxide (CO2) above allowable limits, violating Article 156 and 312 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management and Articles 5 and 8 of Sub-decree No. 42 on the Control of Air Pollution and Noise Disturbance.
The release of toxic odours from burning plastic violates Article 313 of the same law. Operating without an air pollution discharge permit violates Article 314, and the lack of air pollution control equipment at the incinerator site violates Article 316 of the law and Article 24 of the sub-decree.
