Eight ministries and organisations are celebrating the 8th World Cleanup Day over a six-day period, with thousands of participants joining to promote a spirit of environmental care among citizens, government institutions and the private sector.
The 8th World Cleanup Day is being held from September 15 to 20, organised through cooperation between the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Cults and Religion, and the River Ocean Cleanup organisation.
“The nationwide celebration aims to foster environmental awareness among citizens, government institutions, and the private sector, encourage participation in waste management and solid waste reduction, and raise understanding of the impacts of waste on the planet,” explained the environment ministry.
Some activities have already been carried out in Kandal and Tbong Khmum provinces, where local authorities encouraged villages, schools, pagodas and communities along national roads to take part in cleanup efforts.
The River Ocean Cleanup Organisation reported that in Tbong Khmum’s O’Rang-ou district alone, more than 1,000 people joined the campaign, not yet counting participants across other areas of the province. The campaign was accompanied by the message “Clean Cambodia – Khmer Can Do”. The organisation expected that Cambodia will be ranked among the countries with the highest levels of participation worldwide.
Staff and leadership of the River Ocean Cleanup organisation praised environment minister Eang Sophalleth for his leadership in improving Cambodia’s environmental condition, particularly through the “Clean, Green, and Sustainable” strategy, the “Clean Cambodia – Khmer Can Do” campaign and the “Plastic-Free National Roads” campaign.
They emphasised that such achievements were made possible through the leadership and direct participation of all stakeholders — ministries, institutions, domestic and international organisations, private companies and the public. River Ocean Cleanup expressed gratitude for the support and enabling environment that allowed it to carry out its mission successfully, especially in removing plastic waste from the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers, which are vital water sources for over 16 million Cambodians.
The campaign is aligned with phase one of the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy, as well as the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028, which focuses on cleanliness, greenery and sustainability. It further supports the “Clean, Plastic-Free National Roads” campaign and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
