Boeur Sophea
Sean Bopha of Comped explains the composting process and how it could be expanded throughout Cambodia, in Battambang on November 6, 2020. (Gerald Flynn/VOD)

As Trash Woes Pile Up, Community Efforts Fill In the Gaps

From organized volunteer cleanups to commercialized plastics recycling, community efforts dotted across Cambodia seek solutions to the 4 million tons of waste produced annually, which is filling up volatile dumpsites and soiling the natural environment.

An edjai scours Battambang’s landfill for salvageable goods, on November 6, 2020. (Gerald Flynn/VOD)

Scavengers: An Overlooked Backbone of Cambodia’s Waste Management

Analysis of the edjais and their impact on waste management throughout Cambodia is limited, but their haphazard scavenging for valuable waste buttresses the country’s waste management, says Kathrin Eitel, a research associate and anthropologist working with the University of Frankfurt.