Inter-provincial drive aims to trim plastic use
VOLUNTEER group Creal Cambodia will launch the first phase of “Keep Environment Clean” campaign in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Siem Reap, Battambang, Kep and Kampot in February to reduce plastic use by at least 20 per cent per household.
The campaign’s purpose is to educate the public on proper plastic waste management and encourage them to protect the environment.
Creal Cambodia founder Hour Chhai Ngorn told The Post on January 11 that the project would gather a team of 5,000 volunteers. Among them would be students, employees and tourists who visit entertainment places.
“The project will last for a whole year. Our activities will be done on every Sunday of the beginning of each month. [We will mobilise the] most volunteers in Phnom Penh, but activities in the provinces will be carried out on a pilot basis.
He said the volunteers will visit various sites to do cleaning, explain to the public on waste management and post educational photos and videos on social media.
He added that the locations to carry out cleaning activities will be selected using information given by the Ministry of Environment and Phnom Penh Municipal Hall and also by looking for places with a large amount of rubbish during walkabouts.
“We target to at least share information on environmental care and other knowledge on waste management to at least 10 million people in a year,” said Ngorn who is also the campaign manager.
Creal Cambodia will also launch an “Outstanding Child” campaign, where a child will be nurtured as a hero to guard the environment in each household.
Chai Ngorn said the Keep Environment Clean project will be expanded to all provinces in 2022.
Environment ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra told The Post on January 11 that the ministry supported Creal Cambodia, which started to clean up the environment in Phnom Penh in 2018 and whose project had expanded to other provinces as well.
“The campaign that we launched in 2021 is to maintain a clean environment, and this is an important task that we cooperate to cultivate people’s love for the environment and hygiene.
Pheaktra believes that these activities will make urban area as well as some areas to be cleaner.
Creal Cambodia is a youth group made up of university and private institution students that promotes love and participation in environment care to improve the tourism sector.
Besides, they also aspire to make Phnom Penh a model city for cleanliness, which lifts the nation’s dignity and supports growth.